A dividend calendar spreadsheet lists, for each stock or fund you hold, the ex-dividend date, record date, pay date, and expected dividend amount, so you can see when income arrives and plan reinvestment or spending. In Excel, MarketXLS functions such as =DividendFrequency("MSFT") and =DividendPayDate("MSFT") fill those columns for each ticker.
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Why investors use a dividend calendar
Dividends are an important cash and income source for retirees and investors looking for income generation. Many investors look to the dividend calendar to time and maximize their income streams. This calendar shows when investors can expect to receive dividend payments, so they can plan accordingly such as reinvesting a larger portion or reinvesting all the dividends they receive. This can be particularly advantageous when tax strategies are considered along with dividend payments.
What does a typical dividend calendar spreadsheet include?
A typical dividend calendar spreadsheet includes information on the expected date of the dividend payments and the forecasted amount of these payments. It may also contain information regarding ex-dividend dates, record dates, payment dates, dividend payment history, and other details such as specifics on capital gains and eligibility requirements. These spreadsheets can be used by investors to plan and keep track of their dividend portfolios.
How can you use MarketXLS to create your own dividend cash flow calendar?
To build a dividend cash flow calendar with MarketXLS, list your holdings and share counts in Excel, then add a column per dividend field using the functions in the table below (dividend frequency, most recent pay date, payout ratio, and historical dividend yield). Multiply the dividend per payment by shares held to project income per pay date. The values refresh when the workbook recalculates.
Relevant MarketXLS functions on this topic
| Function Title | Function Example | Function Result |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Frequency | =DividendFrequency(“MSFT”) | How many times each year the company typically pays a regular dividend. |
| Dividend Pay Date (MM/DD/YYYY) | =DividendPayDate(“MSFT”) – Returns the most recent dividend pay date for MSFT. | Not considering the future expected dividend. |
| Dividend Payout Ratio | =DividendPayoutRatio(“MSFT”) | Returns the percentage of earnings that have been passed on to shareholders |
| Dividend Yield (Last Quarter) | =hf_Dividend_Yield(“MSFT”,2022) – Returns the value for the year 2022. =hf_Dividend_Yield(“MSFT”,2022,2) – Returns the value for the year 2022 and the calendar quarter 2 =hf_Dividend_Yield(“MSFT”,2022,3,”TTM”) – Returns the value for the year 2022 and trailing twelve months from the calendar quarter =hf_Dividend_Yield(“MSFT”,”lq”) – Returns the value for the last quarter =hf_Dividend_Yield(“MSFT”,”lq-1″) – Returns the value for the last quarter-1 =hf_Dividend_Yield(“MSFT”,”ly”) – Returns the value for the last year =hf_Dividend_Yield(“MSFT”,”ly-1″) – Returns the value for the last year – 1 =hf_Dividend_Yield(“MSFT”,”lt”) – Returns the value for the last 12 months. =hf_Dividend_Yield(“MSFT”,”lt-1″) – Returns the value for the previous last 12 months. | If a company’s dividend yield has been steadily increasing, this could be because they are increasing their dividend, because their share price is declining, or both. Depending on the circumstances, this may be seen as either a positive or a negative sign by investors. |
Browse the MarketXLS formula directory.
Sample workbook and related templates
For a general introduction, preview the sample Excel workbook.
Explore these existing templates in the MarketXLS library:
- Dividend Growth Model (Gordon Method)
- Comparable Sector Analysis
- Weiss Blue Chip Div Yield Screen
- Neff Screen
Browse all MarketXLS templates.
Relevant blogs that you can read to learn more about the topic
Dividend Growth Investing
Streamline Your Dividend Tracking with a Spreadsheet Calendar
Excel Tracker for Dividend Portfolio Monitoring
Create a Dividend Calendar Spreadsheet to Maximize Retirement Income
Boost Returns With a Dividend Stock Screener
