Walmart Stock Dividend: Yield, History, and What Investors Should Know

You’ve likely spent money at Walmart, but what if the company could start paying you back? For those who own a piece of the company, this is a reality thanks to stock dividends—one of the most common ways to earn money from investments.

Imagine you and a friend co-own a successful coffee stand and split the profits each month. The way dividends work is very similar. When you buy a company’s stock, also called a share, you become a shareholder—the official term for a part-owner. The dividend is simply the company sharing a portion of its profits directly with you.

This cash payment is a source of income separate from the stock’s day-to-day price. While a stock’s value can fluctuate, a dividend is a tangible reward paid to you just for being an owner. It’s a steady way companies like Walmart, which has paid a dividend every year since 1974, thank their investors.

The Big Question: How Much is Walmart’s Dividend Per Share?

For each share of Walmart stock an investor owns, the company pays a specific cash amount. As of mid-2024, that amount is $0.59 per share. This isn’t a bonus or a lottery; it’s a direct slice of the company’s profits being shared with you as one of its owners. The figure can change, but Walmart has a long history of consistent payments.

Calculating your potential dividend income is surprisingly simple. You just multiply the number of shares you own by the per-share dividend amount. For example, if you owned 10 shares, you would earn $5.90 (10 shares x $0.59). If you owned 20 shares, you’d get $11.80. It’s a clear and predictable way to see what you’ll receive.

That payment isn’t a one-time event. Walmart pays its dividend quarterly, meaning four times per year—about every three months. This creates a small but steady stream of income and leads to another question: Is Walmart’s dividend a ‘good’ return on your money?

Is Walmart’s Dividend ‘Good’? Understanding Dividend Yield

Knowing the cash amount per share is a great start, but how do you judge if it’s a ‘good’ return? To answer that, investors use a simple percentage called the dividend yield. Think of it as the ‘interest rate’ you earn on your investment, making it easy to compare with other income sources, like a savings account.

The dividend yield for WMT is best understood through a familiar comparison. If your high-yield savings account offers a 4% interest rate, you know your return. The dividend yield does the same job for a stock, showing the percentage of your investment you can expect back in dividends each year.

To find the yield, you divide the company’s total annual dividend per share by the stock’s current price. For example, if a stock pays $2 in dividends annually and costs $100 per share, its yield is 2%. This percentage immediately tells you if you’re earning more or less than your savings account.

The dividend yield isn’t fixed. Because the stock price changes daily, the yield percentage fluctuates as well. If the stock price goes down, the yield goes up, and vice-versa—even if the cash dividend payment stays the same.

How to Get Paid: Marking Your Calendar for Walmart’s Dividend

Ensuring the dividend cash lands in your account comes down to two important dates. The most critical is the ex-dividend date. Think of it as a cut-off deadline. To be eligible for the next dividend payment, you must own the stock before this date. If you buy on or after the ex-dividend date, the previous owner gets that quarter’s payout.

After the ex-dividend date passes, the next date to watch for is the payment date. This is the day the money is actually deposited into your brokerage account—it’s payday! There’s usually a gap of a few weeks between these two dates, so don’t worry if the cash doesn’t show up immediately. The payment date is when your ownership officially turns into cash in hand.

Walmart’s dividend history shows a predictable payment schedule, typically paying out in early January, April, June, and September. This consistent timing is a hallmark of a stable company.

How Safe is Walmart’s Dividend? A 50-Year Track Record of Reliability

When it comes to reliability, Walmart’s dividend has a track record that’s hard to beat. The company has sent a dividend payment to its owners every single quarter since March 1974. For nearly 50 years, through all kinds of economic ups and downs, Walmart has consistently shared its profits. This long WMT dividend history is a powerful testament to the company’s underlying financial stability.

Even more impressively, Walmart has not just paid, but has increased its dividend every single year since it began. This dedication earns the company a respected title in the investment world: a ‘Dividend Aristocrat.’ This isn’t just a fancy name; it’s a specific label for an elite group of companies in the S&P 500 that have increased their dividend for at least 25 consecutive years.

For anyone considering an investment, this status is one of the strongest signals of a company’s health and its commitment to its owners. It suggests the business is managed so well that it can afford to give you a ‘raise’ year after year.

How Walmart Stacks Up: A Quick Look at Walmart vs. Target’s Dividend

The most obvious dividend comparison for Walmart is with its main rival, Target. When you place the Walmart vs. Target dividend side-by-side, you’ll notice interesting differences that tell a bigger story about what investors might expect from each company.

For example, you might find that Target’s dividend yield is often noticeably higher than Walmart’s. At a glance, this can seem like an easy choice; a higher yield means more cash for every dollar you invest. A 3% yield, for instance, provides more immediate income than a 1.5% yield. However, a higher yield doesn’t always mean it’s a ‘better’ investment.

A dividend yield is a percentage of the stock’s price. Sometimes, a higher yield can signal that investors see more risk or less future growth in a company, which keeps its stock price lower relative to its dividend. In this case, investors might see Walmart’s ‘Dividend Aristocrat’ status as a sign of long-term stability, while viewing Target’s higher yield as offering more income right now. This comparison is about gaining perspective to make a more informed decision.

Your First Steps: How to Buy Shares and Reinvest Your Earnings

To start earning these dividends, the first step is to open a brokerage account. Think of it as a bank account, but specifically for investments. Modern apps and websites from well-known financial companies have made this process incredibly simple, often taking just a few minutes to set up.

Once your account is active, you don’t need a fortune to get started. You can learn how to invest in stocks by purchasing just a single share of Walmart to become an official shareholder. Becoming a company owner is more accessible today than ever before, allowing you to start small and build your stake over time.

Finally, you have a powerful choice for your earnings. Instead of taking the cash, most brokerages offer a dividend reinvestment plan (DRIP). This automatically uses your dividend payments to buy more stock—even fractional pieces of a share. Over time, those new pieces start earning their own dividends, creating a snowball effect that helps your investment grow. It’s a simple setting that puts your earnings on autopilot, turning you from a shopper into an owner.

From Shopper to Owner: What Walmart’s Dividend Means for You

You no longer have to see Walmart as just a place to spend money. With an understanding of dividends, you can see a path to becoming a partner in its success. Your first step toward this new reality is simple: look up the interest rate on your savings account, then find the current Walmart stock dividend yield. This single comparison is an empowering exercise, showing how different assets can put your money to work.

This isn’t about getting rich quick; it’s about a shift in mindset. Through consistent, long-term investing, a familiar brand can become a source of steady cash flow. You’re no longer just watching a company succeed—you’re building a future where its success contributes directly to your own.