Dividend shares, explained for beginners

A dividend is a slice of a company's profit paid out in cash to the people who own its shares, usually every three or six months. The dividend yield is that annual cash amount as a percentage of the share price.

A large yield can look tempting, but it is not free money and it is not guaranteed. A very high figure often means the share price has fallen because the market expects the payout to be cut - so the number is a question to understand, not a prize to chase. Each name below links to a full explainer covering how sustainable its payout looks.