Returns received by investors in equities come in two forms

• Growth in the value (market price) of the share
• Dividends

Dividend is distribution of part of a company’s earnings to shareholders, usually twice a year in the form of a final dividend and an interim dividend. Dividend is therefore a source of income for the shareholder. Normally, the dividend is expressed on a ‘per share’ basis, for instance – Rs. 3 per share. This makes it easy to see how much of the company’s profits are being paid out, and how much are being retained by the company to plough back into the business. So a company that has earnings per share in the year of Rs. 6 and pays out Rs. 3 per share as a dividend is passing half of its profits on to shareholders and retaining the other half. Directors of a company have discretion as to how much of a dividend to declare or whether they should pay any dividend at all.