Trailing Dividend / Share
$2.47
National HealthCare Corporation (NHC) Dividend History
Income profile from 1987 to 2026 with payout safety and yield-on-cost trend
Dividend Yield
1.5%
Payout Ratio
N/A
Unknown
Dividend Streak
12 years
3-Second Income Check
Safety
Payout ratio data not available yet.
Consistency
12 straight years of dividend increases.
Income Trend
Yield on cost is 3.8% and trend is rising.
Dividend Scorecard
Yield & Income
Dividend Yield1.5%
Trailing DPS$2.47
FrequencyAnnual
Payments / 12M5
Payout Safety
Earnings PayoutN/A
Earnings SafetyUnknown
FCF Payout26.4%
FCF SafetyWell Covered
Piotroski F-Score2/9
Growth
Growth Streak12 years
3Y CAGR3.8%
5Y CAGR4.0%
Yield on Cost (5Y)3.8%
YOC Trendrising
Total Returns
Buyback Yield0.6%
Total Shareholder Yield2.1%
1Y Total Return78.2%
5Y Total Return147.5%
Div Contribution (5Y)16.5%
Estimated $10K growth (return + dividends):
5Y ago$24,74710Y ago$28,83520Y ago$48,678
Uses precomputed total return metrics from screening data (not lot-by-lot dividend reinvestment transactions). Different time windows can produce different outcomes depending on market regime and entry point.
Income Growth Story
Dividend per share and yield on cost over time (34 years of payments)
Dividend Safety Story
EPS is the container — dividend is what's drawn out
Dividend Analysis
Payout Safety
National HealthCare Corporation has limited earnings payout data (Unknown). When measured against free cash flow—a stricter test—the payout ratio stands at 26.4%, rated "Well Covered".
Piotroski F-Score: 2/9 — weak financial health.
Growth Track Record
NHC has raised its dividend for 12 consecutive years, with a 3-year CAGR of 3.8% and 5-year CAGR of 4.0%.
Total Shareholder Returns
Beyond cash dividends, NHC returns capital through share repurchases. The combined picture: 1.5% dividend yield, 0.6% buyback yield, 2.1% total shareholder yield.
Income Trend & Total Return
Yield on cost (5-year basis) has reached 3.8% and is currently rising. The 5-year total return is 147.5%, with dividends contributing 16.5% of that performance.
DRIP Growth
A $10,000 investment made 10 years ago with dividends reinvested would have grown to approximately $28,835 today.
Recent Dividend Payments
Last 20 payments · Annual
TTM Total$11.78
Avg/Payment$0.5890
| Ex-Date | Amount | Change | Yield % | Payment Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 31, 2026Latest | $0.6400 | — | 1.57% | Apr 30, 2026 |
| Dec 31, 2025 | $0.6400 | — | 1.85% | Jan 30, 2026 |
| Sep 30, 2025 | $0.6400 | — | 2.06% | Oct 31, 2025 |
| Jun 30, 2025 | $0.6400 | ↑ +4.9% | 2.31% | Aug 1, 2025 |
| Mar 28, 2025 | $0.6100 | — | 2.64% | Apr 25, 2025 |
| Dec 30, 2024 | $0.6100 | — | 2.25% | Jan 31, 2025 |
| Sep 30, 2024 | $0.6100 | — | 1.91% | Nov 1, 2024 |
| Jun 28, 2024 | $0.6100 | ↑ +3.4% | 2.20% | Aug 1, 2024 |
Dividend Peer Comparison
Peer group: Post-acute and senior care
#2 yield in peer group
Div Yield
1.5%
#2 of 5
Safety
Unknown
— payout
Streak
12Y
4.0% 5Y CAGR
Total Shareholder
2.1%
#3 of 5
Annual Dividend History
39 years of dividend data
GrowthDecline
| Year | DPS | YoY | Pmts | EPS | Payout | Coverage | YOC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | $0.64 | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1.0% |
| 2025 | $2.53 | 4.5% | 4 | $7.67 | 33.0% | 3.03x | 3.8% |
| 2024 | $2.42 | 3.4% | 4 | $6.53 | 37.1% | 2.70x | 3.6% |
| 2023 | $2.34 | 3.5% | 4 | $4.34 | 53.9% | 1.85x | 3.5% |
| 2022 | $2.26 | 7.1% | 4 | $1.45 | 155.9% | 0.64x | 3.4% |
| 2021 | $2.11 | 1.4% | 4 | $8.99 | 23.5% | 4.26x | 3.1% |
| 2020 | $2.08 | 1.0% | 4 | $2.72 | 76.5% | 1.31x | 3.1% |
| 2019 | $2.06 | 4.0% | 4 | $4.44 | 46.4% | 2.16x | 3.1% |
| 2018 | $1.98 | 4.8% | 4 | $3.87 | 51.2% | 1.95x | 2.9% |
| 2017 | $1.89 | 8.0% | 4 | $3.69 | 51.2% | 1.95x | 2.8% |
See NHC's True Return
Price is only half the story. See total return with reinvested dividends.
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Start ComparisonFrequently Asked Questions
How much dividend does NHC pay per share?
National HealthCare Corporation (NHC) pays a trailing 12-month dividend of $2.47 per share, with a current dividend yield of +1.5%. Payments are made Annual.
When is NHC's next ex-dividend date?
NHC's most recent ex-dividend date is N/A. You must own shares before the ex-dividend date to receive the next payment. NHC typically pays dividends Annual.
Is NHC's dividend safe?
NHC's dividend safety is rated "Unknown" based on an earnings payout ratio of N/A and FCF payout ratio of +26.4%. With 12 consecutive years of dividend growth, the track record supports sustainability.
Is NHC a Dividend Achiever?
Yes, National HealthCare Corporation is classified as a Dividend Achiever with 12 consecutive years of dividend increases. The 5-year dividend CAGR is +4.0%, demonstrating modest dividend growth.
How often does NHC pay dividends?
National HealthCare Corporation pays dividends Annual. The trailing 12-month total is $2.47 per share. Dividend data on this page covers 39+ years from 1987 to 2026.
How much would $10,000 invested in NHC grow with dividend reinvestment?
With dividends reinvested (DRIP), $10,000 invested in NHC five years ago would be worth approximately $24,747 today. This includes both price appreciation and compounded dividend reinvestment. Use the DRIP calculator above for other time periods.
What is NHC's yield on cost for long-term holders?
NHC's yield on cost — the current dividend divided by the original purchase price — is +3.8% for a 5-year holding period. This means long-term holders earn a higher effective yield than today's +1.5% market yield, thanks to consistent dividend growth.