Trailing Dividend / Share
$0.94
The Western Union Company (WU) Dividend History
Income profile from 2006 to 2026 with payout safety and yield-on-cost trend
Dividend Yield
9.8%
Payout Ratio
61.8%
Watch
Dividend Streak
11 years
3-Second Income Check
Safety
61.8% payout ratio with watch safety profile.
Consistency
11 straight years of dividend increases.
Income Trend
Yield on cost is 4.3% and trend is rising.
Dividend Scorecard
Yield & Income
Dividend Yield9.8%
Trailing DPS$0.94
FrequencyAnnual
Payments / 12M5
Payout Safety
Earnings Payout61.8%
Earnings SafetyWatch
FCF Payout78.6%
FCF SafetyStretched
Piotroski F-Score5/9
Growth
Growth Streak11 years
3Y CAGR0.0%
5Y CAGR0.9%
Yield on Cost (5Y)4.3%
YOC Trendrising
Total Returns
Buyback Yield7.7%
Total Shareholder Yield17.5%
1Y Total Return-2.4%
5Y Total Return-39.5%
Div Contribution (5Y)19.8%
Estimated $10K growth (return + dividends):
5Y ago$6,05110Y ago$9,92920Y ago$11,412
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 (21 years of payments)
Dividend Safety Story
EPS is the container — dividend is what's drawn out
Dividend Analysis
Payout Safety
The Western Union Company distributes 61.8% of earnings as dividends (Watch). When measured against free cash flow—a stricter test—the payout ratio stands at 78.6%, rated "Stretched".
Piotroski F-Score: 5/9 — moderate financial health.
Growth Track Record
WU has raised its dividend for 11 consecutive years, with a 3-year CAGR of 0.0% and 5-year CAGR of 0.9%.
Total Shareholder Returns
Beyond cash dividends, WU returns capital through share repurchases. The combined picture: 9.8% dividend yield, 7.7% buyback yield, 17.5% total shareholder yield.
Income Trend & Total Return
Yield on cost (5-year basis) has reached 4.3% and is currently rising. The 5-year total return is -39.5%, with dividends contributing 19.8% of that performance.
DRIP Growth
A $10,000 investment made 10 years ago with dividends reinvested would have grown to approximately $9,929 today.
FCF payout is stretched — the dividend consumes a large share of free cash flow.
Recent Dividend Payments
Last 20 payments · Annual
TTM Total$4.70
Avg/Payment$0.2350
| Ex-Date | Amount | Change | Yield % | Payment Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 17, 2026Latest | $0.2350 | — | 9.76% | Mar 31, 2026 |
| Dec 22, 2025 | $0.2350 | — | 10.09% | Dec 31, 2025 |
| Sep 16, 2025 | $0.2350 | — | 11.46% | Sep 30, 2025 |
| Jun 16, 2025 | $0.2350 | — | 10.87% | Jun 30, 2025 |
| Mar 17, 2025 | $0.2350 | — | 8.83% | Mar 31, 2025 |
| Dec 23, 2024 | $0.2350 | — | 8.94% | Dec 31, 2024 |
| Sep 16, 2024 | $0.2350 | — | 7.99% | Sep 30, 2024 |
| Jun 14, 2024 | $0.2350 | — | 7.79% | Jun 28, 2024 |
Dividend Peer Comparison
Peer group: Payment Networks and Merchant Acquiring
#1 yield in peer group
Div Yield
9.8%
#1 of 5
Safety
Watch
61.8% payout
Streak
11Y
0.9% 5Y CAGR
Total Shareholder
17.5%
#2 of 5
Annual Dividend History
24 years of dividend data
GrowthDecline
| Year | DPS | YoY | Pmts | EPS | Payout | Coverage | YOC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | $0.23 | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1.1% |
| 2025 | $0.94 | 0.0% | 4 | $1.53 | 61.4% | 1.63x | 4.3% |
| 2024 | $0.94 | 0.0% | 4 | $2.74 | 34.3% | 2.91x | 4.3% |
| 2023 | $0.94 | 0.0% | 4 | $1.68 | 56.0% | 1.79x | 4.3% |
| 2022 | $0.94 | 0.0% | 4 | $2.34 | 40.2% | 2.49x | 4.3% |
| 2021 | $0.94 | 4.4% | 4 | $1.97 | 47.7% | 2.10x | 4.3% |
| 2020 | $0.90 | 12.5% | 4 | $1.79 | 50.3% | 1.99x | 4.1% |
| 2019 | $0.80 | 5.3% | 4 | $2.46 | 32.5% | 3.07x | 3.7% |
| 2018 | $0.76 | 8.6% | 4 | $1.87 | 40.6% | 2.46x | 3.5% |
| 2017 | $0.70 | 9.4% | 4 | $-1.19 | — | — | 3.2% |
See WU'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 WU pay per share?
The Western Union Company (WU) pays a trailing 12-month dividend of $0.94 per share, with a current dividend yield of +9.8%. Payments are made Annual.
When is WU's next ex-dividend date?
WU's most recent ex-dividend date is N/A. You must own shares before the ex-dividend date to receive the next payment. WU typically pays dividends Annual.
Is WU's dividend safe?
WU's dividend safety is rated "Watch" based on an earnings payout ratio of +61.8% and FCF payout ratio of +78.6%. With 11 consecutive years of dividend growth, the track record supports sustainability.
Is WU a Dividend Achiever?
Yes, The Western Union Company is classified as a Dividend Achiever with 11 consecutive years of dividend increases. The 5-year dividend CAGR is +0.9%, demonstrating modest dividend growth.
How often does WU pay dividends?
The Western Union Company pays dividends Annual. The trailing 12-month total is $0.94 per share. Dividend data on this page covers 20+ years from 2006 to 2026.
How much would $10,000 invested in WU grow with dividend reinvestment?
With dividends reinvested (DRIP), $10,000 invested in WU five years ago would be worth approximately $6,051 today. This includes both price appreciation and compounded dividend reinvestment. Use the DRIP calculator above for other time periods.
What is WU's yield on cost for long-term holders?
WU's yield on cost — the current dividend divided by the original purchase price — is +4.3% for a 5-year holding period. This means long-term holders earn a higher effective yield than today's +9.8% market yield, thanks to consistent dividend growth.