Trailing Dividend / Share
$1.14
AT&T Inc. (T) Dividend History
Income profile from 1984 to 2026 with payout safety and yield-on-cost trend
Dividend Yield
4.1%
Payout Ratio
37.4%
Sustainable
Dividend Streak
2 years
3-Second Income Check
Safety
37.4% payout ratio with sustainable safety profile.
Consistency
2 straight years of dividend increases.
Income Trend
Yield on cost is 5.0% and trend is falling.
Dividend Scorecard
Yield & Income
Dividend Yield4.1%
Trailing DPS$1.14
FrequencyAnnual
Payments / 12M4
Payout Safety
Earnings Payout37.4%
Earnings SafetySustainable
FCF Payout42.1%
FCF SafetyWell Covered
Piotroski F-Score7/9
Growth
Growth Streak2 years
3Y CAGR-6.4%
5Y CAGR-11.8%
Yield on Cost (5Y)5.0%
YOC Trendfalling
Total Returns
Buyback Yield2.3%
Total Shareholder Yield6.4%
1Y Total Return6.2%
5Y Total Return62.8%
Div Contribution (5Y)30.8%
Estimated $10K growth (return + dividends):
5Y ago$16,28310Y ago$15,97720Y ago$29,480
Uses precomputed total return metrics from screening data (not lot-by-lot dividend reinvestment transactions). T's recent 5Y regime has been stronger than its full 10Y period, so 5Y can appear higher than 10Y.
Income Growth Story
Dividend per share and yield on cost over time (43 years of payments)
Dividend Safety Story
EPS is the container — dividend is what's drawn out
Dividend Analysis
Payout Safety
AT&T Inc. distributes 37.4% of earnings as dividends (Sustainable). When measured against free cash flow—a stricter test—the payout ratio stands at 42.1%, rated "Well Covered".
Piotroski F-Score: 7/9 — strong financial health.
Growth Track Record
T has raised its dividend for 2 consecutive years, with a 3-year CAGR of -6.4% and 5-year CAGR of -11.8%.
Total Shareholder Returns
Beyond cash dividends, T returns capital through share repurchases. The combined picture: 4.1% dividend yield, 2.3% buyback yield, 6.4% total shareholder yield.
Income Trend & Total Return
Yield on cost (5-year basis) has reached 5.0% and is currently falling. The 5-year total return is 62.8%, with dividends contributing 30.8% of that performance.
DRIP Growth
A $10,000 investment made 10 years ago with dividends reinvested would have grown to approximately $15,977 today.
Recent Dividend Payments
Last 20 payments · Annual
TTM Total$6.52
Avg/Payment$0.3260
| Ex-Date | Amount | Change | Yield % | Payment Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 12, 2026Latest | $0.2775 | — | 4.68% | Feb 2, 2026 |
| Oct 10, 2025 | $0.2775 | — | 4.29% | Nov 3, 2025 |
| Jul 10, 2025 | $0.2775 | — | 4.02% | Aug 1, 2025 |
| Apr 10, 2025 | $0.2775 | — | 4.21% | May 1, 2025 |
| Jan 10, 2025 | $0.2775 | — | 5.12% | Feb 3, 2025 |
| Oct 10, 2024 | $0.2775 | — | 5.23% | Nov 1, 2024 |
| Jul 10, 2024 | $0.2775 | — | 5.92% | Aug 1, 2024 |
| Apr 9, 2024 | $0.2775 | — | 6.57% | May 1, 2024 |
Dividend Peer Comparison
Peer group: Integrated Telecom and Media Groups
#7 yield in peer group
Div Yield
4.1%
#7 of 9
Safety
Sustainable
37.4% payout
Streak
2Y
-11.8% 5Y CAGR
Total Shareholder
6.4%
#5 of 9
| Company | Mkt Cap | Yield | Payout | Streak | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TAT&T Inc. | $196.0B | 4.1% | 37.4% | 2 | Sustainable |
VZVerizon Communicatio… | $211.4B | 5.4% | 66.9% | 10 | Watch |
TBBAT&T Inc. 5.35% GLB … | $139.3B | 5.0% | 37.4% | 2 | Sustainable |
AMXAmérica Móvil, S.A.B… | $78.4B | 2.3% | 40.0% | 5 | Sustainable |
VODVodafone Group Publi… | $35.8B | 5.2% | — | 0 | Unknown |
VIVTelefônica Brasil S.… | $27.0B | 1.8% | 45.6% | 0 | Sustainable |
1st BCEBCE Inc. | $24.5B | 11.0% | 10.5% | 2 | Sustainable |
2nd TEFTelefónica, S.A. | $24.4B | 8.5% | — | 0 | Unknown |
3rd TUTELUS Corporation | $21.4B | 5.6% | 1.5% | 5 | Sustainable |
Annual Dividend History
43 years of dividend data
GrowthDecline
| Year | DPS | YoY | Pmts | EPS | Payout | Coverage | YOC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | $0.28 | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1.2% |
| 2025 | $1.11 | 0.0% | 4 | $3.04 | 36.5% | 2.74x | 5.0% |
| 2024 | $1.11 | 0.0% | 4 | $1.49 | 74.5% | 1.34x | 5.0% |
| 2023 | $1.11 | -17.9% | 4 | $1.97 | 56.3% | 1.77x | 5.0% |
| 2022 | $1.35 | -35.0% | 4 | $-1.13 | — | — | 6.1% |
| 2021 | $2.08 | 0.0% | 4 | $2.73 | 76.2% | 1.31x | 9.4% |
| 2020 | $2.08 | 2.0% | 4 | $-0.75 | — | — | 9.4% |
| 2019 | $2.04 | 2.0% | 4 | $1.89 | 107.9% | 0.93x | 9.2% |
| 2018 | $2.00 | 2.0% | 4 | $2.85 | 70.2% | 1.43x | 9.0% |
| 2017 | $1.96 | 2.1% | 4 | $4.76 | 41.2% | 2.43x | 8.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much dividend does T pay per share?
AT&T Inc. (T) pays a trailing 12-month dividend of $1.14 per share, with a current dividend yield of +4.1%. Payments are made Annual.
When is T's next ex-dividend date?
T's most recent ex-dividend date is N/A. You must own shares before the ex-dividend date to receive the next payment. T typically pays dividends Annual.
Is T's dividend safe?
T's dividend safety is rated "Sustainable" based on an earnings payout ratio of +37.4% and FCF payout ratio of +42.1%. The 2-year growth streak provides moderate confidence.
How many years has T increased its dividend?
T has 2 consecutive years of dividend growth. The 5-year dividend CAGR is -11.8%.
How often does T pay dividends?
AT&T Inc. pays dividends Annual. The trailing 12-month total is $1.14 per share. Dividend data on this page covers 42+ years from 1984 to 2026.
How much would $10,000 invested in T grow with dividend reinvestment?
With dividends reinvested (DRIP), $10,000 invested in T five years ago would be worth approximately $16,283 today. This includes both price appreciation and compounded dividend reinvestment. Use the DRIP calculator above for other time periods.
What is T's yield on cost for long-term holders?
T's yield on cost — the current dividend divided by the original purchase price — is +5.0% for a 5-year holding period. This means long-term holders earn a higher effective yield than today's +4.1% market yield, thanks to the lower original cost basis.