How often are stock dividends paid and what does the dividend schedule look like?

Most U.S. companies that pay dividends do so quarterly, meaning four times a year, though some pay monthly, semiannually, or annually. Each payment moves through four key dates: the declaration date, when the board announces it; the ex-dividend date, the cutoff you must own the stock before to get the payment; the record date; and the payment date, when cash actually lands in your account. To receive a dividend you must own the shares before the ex-dividend date. Broad index funds and ETFs pass through the dividends of their underlying companies, often paying quarterly. Dividends aren't guaranteed and a company can cut them anytime, so chasing high yields for income can backfire if the payout isn't sustainable.