What is the dividend yield? How is it calculated?

What is the dividend yield ?

 

The dividend yield shows the percentage of income earned from a dividend compared to its share price on the ex-dividend date. In Iraq, this date is the last trading day before the Annual General Meeting (AGM), where dividends are decided.

 

How is dividend yield calculated?

 

For example:

Company A decides to distribute a 70% cash dividend (IQD0.70 cash dividend per share)

Ex-dividend date closing price: IQD5.00,

Dividend yield formula = Dividend per share / Ex-dividend date closing price

= IQD0.70 / IQD5.00 = 14%

 

As a result, if your portfolio invested in Company A was valued at IQD1,000,000 before the AGM, you would receive a total cash dividend of IQD140,000 (=1,000,000 × 14%). (For the 5-year dividend history of each stock including dividend yield calculations, please refer to Rabee Securities’ Research Department’s Quarterly “Dividend Report (ISX-listed Companies)”)

 

Why is dividend yield important? 

 

The question is not only ‘What is dividend yield?’ but also ‘Why is it important?’ Dividend yield is important because it is a standardized ratio that allows you to compare the returns from investments in different companies, each with varying share prices and dividend distributions.

What factors affect dividend yield?

Dividend yield depends on a company’s earnings and payout policy, its stock price, market conditions, and industry norms. Higher profits or lower stock prices generally increase the yield, while lower payouts or higher prices reduce it.

Company Profitability and Earnings Performance

A company’s profitability and earnings determine its ability to pay dividends—strong, consistent profits support steady or growing dividends, while weak performance can lead to cuts or suspensions.

Stock Price Volatility

Dividend yield moves inversely with stock price—if the price drops, yield rises, and if the price rises, yield falls, since it’s calculated by dividing dividends by the current stock price.

Dividend Policy and Distribution Strategy

A company’s dividend policy shapes yield—firms that prioritize regular payouts offer higher dividends, while those reinvesting profits may have lower yields but greater growth potential.

Industry Sector and Business Maturity

Mature industries and established companies usually provide higher dividend yields due to stable cash flows, while growth-sector firms retain earnings for expansion, offering lower or no dividends.

Economic Conditions and Interest Rate Environment

Economic conditions and interest rates affect dividends—uncertain economies may lead companies to cut payouts, while favorable conditions support steady or higher distributions.

Comparison of inflation and dividend yield

Investors should consider how inflation impacts dividend yield, as it affects the real return and purchasing power of their investments.

Aspect	Dividend Yield	Inflation
Nature	Represents the income return generated by a stock investment through profit distributions to shareholders	Measures the rate at which the general price level of goods and services rises, eroding purchasing power
Impact on Returns	Provides passive income that can offset or exceed inflation when yields are sufficiently high	Reduces the real value of investment returns and income received from dividends
Adjustment Mechanism	Companies may increase dividend payments over time to keep pace with rising costs and maintain shareholder value	Continuously affects the purchasing power of fixed income streams unless adjustments are made
Investment Strategy	Investors seek stocks with growing dividends that can outpace inflation and provide real income growth	Requires portfolio diversification and selection of assets that offer inflation protection

When investing, consider whether a dividend yield beats inflation—nominally high yields can still mean negative real returns. Companies with strong pricing power can raise dividends during inflation, protecting shareholders.

Examples of Dividend Yield

In the example below, Company Y pays a lower cash dividend per share, but its dividend yield is higher than Company Y. If you were holding both shares before their AGM, you would receive more dividend income in Iraqi Dinars from your investment in Company Y. As a result, you should always compare companies based on their dividend yields, not based on the cash dividend paid per share.

 

INVESTED EQUAL AMOUNTS TO BOTH COMPANIES
Formulation	Company X Vs. Company Y	Company X	Company Y
a	Value of the Portfolio before the AGM (IQD)	1,000,000	1,000,000
b	Cash Dividend Per Share (IQD/Share)	0.700	0.400
c	Ex-Dividend Date Closing Price (IQD/Share)	5.000	2.000
b/c=d	Dividend Yield (%)	14.0%	20.0%
a*d=e	Dividend Income (IQD)	140,000	200,000
b	Cash Dividend Per Share (IQD/Share)	0.700	0.400
f	Number of Shares Owned	200,000	500,000
b*f	Dividend Income (IQD)	140,000	200,000
Second formula for Dividend Yield Calculation
a	Value of the Portfolio before the AGM (IQD)	1,000,000	1,000,000
e	Dividend Income (IQD)	140,000	200,000
e/a	Dividend Yield (%)	14%	20%

 

(For the 5-year dividend history of each stock including dividend yield calculations, please refer to Rabee Securities’ Research Department’s Quarterly “Dividend Report (ISX-listed Companies)”)

 

INVESTED DIFFERENT AMOUNTS TO COMPANY X AND Y
Formulation	Company X Vs. Company Y	Company X	Company Y
a	Value of the Portfolio before the AGM (IQD)	1,000,000	500,000
b	Cash Dividend per share (IQD/Share)	0.700	0.400
c	Ex-Dividend Date Closing Price (IQD/Share)	5.000	2.000
b/c=d	Dividend Yield (%)	14.0%	20.0%
a*d=e	Dividend Income (IQD)	140,000	100,000
b	Cash Dividend per share (IQD/Share)	0.700	0.400
f	Number of Shares Owned	200,000	250,000
b*f	Dividend Income (IQD)	140,000	100,000
Second formula for Dividend Yield Calculation
a	Value of the Portfolio before the AGM (IQD)	1,000,000	500,000
e	Dividend Income (IQD)	140,000	100,000
e/a	Dividend Yield (%)	14%	20%

 

The aim should be to focus on high yields, because with the same amount of invested money, your return will be higher in absolute terms. Although the invested value, share price of the stocks, and dividends paid per share may differ, dividend yield tells us whose return is higher in percentage terms.

 

What does dividend yield tell me, and how can I benefit from it when picking stocks to invest in?

 

The dividend yield indicates the return on investment from dividends alone, excluding any capital gains. The benefit of dividend yield is that it provides a standardized comparison among dividend-paying stocks with different share prices and dividends per share. This percentage return shows the return for any amount invested in different stocks.

 

In the Iraq Stock Exchange (ISX), the average dividend yield was 5.7% in 2023, as calculated by Rabee Securities (RS), considering the 23 companies that distributed dividends. This average was 4.3% in 2022, based on 21 companies that distributed dividends. Both the average dividend yield and the number of companies that distributed dividends increased in 2023 compared to 2022. An investor who wants to focus on dividend returns might invest in stocks that distribute dividends at a yield above the average.

What is the relationship between dividend yield and a company’s growth potential?

There is a natural balance between dividend yield and growth potential.

Companies with high growth potential generally allocate their profits to R&D, expansion, and investments rather than distributing them as dividends. Therefore, their dividend yields are low or they pay no dividends at all. The goal is to generate long-term capital gains rather than short-term income.

Mature companies with limited growth rates, on the other hand, have stable cash flows and distribute excess profits to shareholders. This translates to higher dividend yields. They offer investors regular income but generally have lower growth potential.

In short, the relationship is often inverse:

High growth = low dividend yield

Low growth = high dividend yield

Investment choice depends on whether the investor wants income or capital appreciation.

High and low dividend yield stocks

High-yield stocks, typically from mature sectors such as utilities, telecommunications, REITs, and consumer staples, provide steady income and are attractive to investors seeking stability. However, extremely high yields can sometimes signal financial trouble or unsustainable dividends. Low-yield stocks, often found in growth-oriented sectors like technology or biotech, reinvest earnings to fund expansion and innovation, prioritizing long-term capital appreciation over immediate income. A diversified portfolio that includes both high- and low-yield stocks can balance regular income with growth potential, helping investors achieve a mix of stability, income, and wealth accumulation over time.

How to use dividend yield and stock selection strategy?

Using dividend yield in stock selection involves more than picking the highest yields; a systematic approach helps identify quality companies with sustainable income and long-term growth.

Evaluate Dividend Sustainability

Assess dividend sustainability by reviewing earnings, cash flow, and payout ratio—companies paying more than they earn risk future cuts despite high current yields.

Analyze Dividend Growth History

Check the company’s dividend growth history—consistent increases indicate financial strength and reliable income, while volatile or stagnant payouts suggest risk.

Compare Yield Against Industry Benchmarks

Compare a company’s dividend yield to industry peers—yields much higher than peers may signal risk, while competitive yields from strong companies can be attractive.

Consider Total Return Potential

Evaluate total return by combining dividend yield with growth potential—moderate yields from growing companies can outperform high yields from stagnant ones.

Assess Company Fundamentals and Financial Health

Assess company fundamentals—profitability, debt, and market position—to ensure sustainable dividends and lower risk of cuts.

Align Selections with Investment Objectives

Choose stocks that align with your goals—income, preservation, or growth—to ensure your portfolio matches your financial plan and risk tolerance.

Is a High Dividend Yield Good?

A high dividend yield can often be beneficial as it generates substantial income for income-focused investors. Additionally, a high yield sometimes indicates that a stock is undervalued, potentially providing a buying opportunity if the company has a strong financial position. However, investors should consider that when companies distribute most of their profits as dividends, the growth of their operations may be limited. This is because, instead of reinvesting profits into expanding operations, the companies allocate them to shareholders. When investing in high-dividend-yield stocks, investors should evaluate whether the companies’ high-yield dividends are sustainable and whether they have plans for operational growth.

Which Stock Has the Highest Dividend Yield?

In 2024, 21 out of 104 listed Iraq Stock Exchange (ISX) companies distributed dividend with an average dividend yield of 4.0%. International Development Bank (BIDB) paid the highest dividend yield in 2024 with 16.7%. The companies that pay dividend with a yield over the average dividend yield of 4.0% are as follows:  

 

Banking sector:

International Development Bank (BIDB): 16.7%

Al Janoob Islamic Bank (BJAB): 6.1%

National Bank of Iraq (BNOI): 5.6%

Bank of Baghdad (BBOB): 4.1%

 

Telecom Sector:

Asiacell Communications PJSC (TASC): 8.8%

 

Agriculture Sector:

Iraqi for Seed Production (AISP): 7.2%

 

Industry Sector:

Baghdad Soft Drinks (IBSD): 7.0%

Iraqi For Tufted Carpets (IITC): 5.3%

Advantages and Disadvantages of Dividend Yields

The main advantages of dividend yields include income generation, signaling stability and a solid financial position, contributing to the total return on investment, reducing share price volatility, providing reinvestment opportunities that support compound returns, and offering attractive yields in low-interest environments.

 

The main disadvantages of dividend yields include the potential unsustainability of high yields, reduced growth potential if companies reinvest less in business expansion, thereby limiting their potential for capital appreciation. Additionally, high yields might be risky if they result from declining stock prices, as this could reflect underlying problems with the company.

 

As a result, when evaluating dividend yields, investors should consider the sustainability of dividend payments by checking payout ratios, decide whether to invest in growth-focused or income-oriented stocks, and ensure diversification in their investments.

What was the effect of dividends on the RSISXTR Index in 2024?

In February 2024, Rabee Securities introduced a separate “RSISX Total Return (RSISXTR) Index” (incorporating both price changes and dividend income) to better meet the market’s needs. When comparing the performance of the RSISX Index and the RSISXTR Index, the difference reflects the return obtained from the dividends distributed by the companies in the index, assuming they were withdrawn as cash rather than reinvested. The RSISXTR Index increased by 49.1% in the first 11 months of 2024, while the RSISX Index increased by 41.7% during the same period. The difference of 7.4% represents the return obtained from dividends, while the capital gain from the increase in share prices of index companies was 41.7%.

 

When share prices grow rapidly in a market, the primary focus of investors tends to be on capital gains. However, in Iraq, strong and well-managed companies often experience significant share price increases in addition to regular dividend distributions.

 

Dividend Yield vs. Dividend Payout Ratio

Dividend yield and dividend payout ratio are key ratios for evaluating dividend-paying stocks. 

 

Dividend yield shows the return on investment from dividends relative to the stock price, while dividend payout ratio shows the proportion of a company’s earnings paid out as dividends. 

 

While deciding which one to use,  we need to consider that dividend yield is useful when comparing the income potential of stocks, while dividend payout ratio is important while evaluating whether a company can sustain its dividend payments over time. 

 

These two key metrics measure different aspects of a company’s dividend performance. Please see below the comparison of the two in a table: 

 

Comparison of Dividend Yield & Dividend Payout Ratio
	Dividend Yield	Dividend Payout Ratio
What is the main focus?	Return on investment through dividends	Proportion of profits distributed
Tells what?	Attractiveness of a stock for income generation	Sustainability of dividends
Who should evaluate?	Income-focused investors	Investors assessing financial health
What affect it?	Stock price changes	Earnings changes

 

FAQ

What is yield in stocks?

Yield for stocks typically refers to the dividend yield. Rabee Securities’ Research Department, in its Dividend Reports, calculates the dividend yield by dividing the dividend per share by the stock’s closing price just before the annual general meeting (AGM), where the decision to distribute the dividend is made. The divisor in the formula is called  “ex-dividend date closing price”.

 

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