Verizon pays dividends quarterly — four times per year, typically in February, May, August, and November

If you own Verizon (VZ) stock or hold it through a mutual fund or retirement account, you receive a dividend payment every three months. The exact payment dates shift slightly year to year, but Verizon has maintained this quarterly schedule consistently for decades. The company announces the dividend amount and payment date in advance through press releases and its investor relations website.

The timing works like this: Verizon declares a dividend on one date, sets a record date (the cutoff for who owns the stock and receives payment), and then pays shareholders on the payment date. If you own the stock on the record date, you get paid on the payment date, even if you sell the shares before then. The gap between declaration and payment is usually three to four weeks.

Key Takeaways

  • Verizon distributes dividends four times yearly, with payments typically arriving in February, May, August, and November.
  • You must own the stock on the record date to receive that quarter's payment; the exact dates are announced in advance.
  • The dividend amount per share changes periodically but is set by Verizon's board and announced before each payment.
  • Dividend payments go directly to your brokerage account if you hold the stock there, or to a dividend reinvestment plan (DRIP) if you have enrolled.

How the quarterly payment schedule works

Verizon's board of directors votes on the dividend amount each quarter, usually in December, March, June, and September. Once approved, the company announces the payment through a press release that includes the per-share amount, the record date, and the payment date. You can find these announcements on Verizon's investor relations page or through financial news sites.

The record date is the critical date for shareholders. If your name is on the stock ledger as of the close of business on that day, you receive the dividend. If you buy the stock after the record date, you do not receive that quarter's payment — you will receive the next one. Conversely, if you sell after the record date, you still get paid because your ownership was recorded on the date that mattered.

Payment typically arrives within one to three business days of the stated payment date. If you hold the stock in a brokerage account, the cash lands there. If you have enrolled in a dividend reinvestment plan (DRIP), the dividend automatically buys additional shares at no commission instead of paying you cash.

What the dividend amount has been historically

Verizon has raised its dividend for more than a decade, though the per-share amount varies. The company typically increases the quarterly dividend by a small percentage each year. For example, if the quarterly dividend was $0.64 per share in one year, it might be $0.65 or $0.66 the following year. The exact amount depends on Verizon's earnings, cash flow, and board decisions about how much profit to return to shareholders versus reinvest in the business.

You can see the historical dividend amounts on Verizon's investor relations website or on financial data sites like Yahoo Finance or Seeking Alpha. These sites show not just the per-share amount but also the total annual dividend and the dividend yield (the annual dividend divided by the stock price). The yield changes constantly because the stock price moves daily, even though the dividend amount per share is fixed until the board votes to change it.

How to find the exact payment dates for upcoming quarters

Verizon publishes a dividend calendar on its investor relations website showing the declaration date, record date, and payment date for upcoming quarters. You can also call Verizon's investor relations department or check financial news sites that track dividend calendars. Many brokerages also display upcoming dividend dates in your account dashboard.

If you want to receive a specific quarter's dividend, you need to own the stock before the record date. The record date is typically about two weeks after the declaration date. Because stock trades settle two business days after you buy (called T+2 settlement), you should buy at least three business days before the record date to be certain your ownership is recorded in time.

What happens if you own Verizon through a fund or retirement account

If you own Verizon stock indirectly — through a mutual fund, exchange-traded fund (ETF), or a 401(k) or IRA — the fund or account receives the dividend on your behalf. The fund manager decides whether to pay the dividend out in cash or reinvest it to buy more shares. Most funds reinvest automatically unless you choose otherwise. Your account statement will show the dividend received and how it was handled.

The timing is the same: the dividend is paid quarterly. You will see it reflected in your account value or as a separate line item on your statement. If the fund pays dividends out in cash, that cash sits in your account until you decide what to do with it. If the fund reinvests, your share count in that fund increases slightly each quarter.

Dividend reinvestment plans (DRIPs) and automatic purchases

If you own Verizon stock directly and want to reinvest dividends automatically, you can enroll in Verizon's dividend reinvestment plan. When you enroll, each quarterly dividend buys additional shares of Verizon stock at no commission. The number of shares you receive depends on the dividend amount and the stock price on or around the payment date.

DRIPs are useful if you plan to hold Verizon long-term and want to compound your returns. Over decades, reinvested dividends can significantly increase your total share count. However, DRIPs do create tax reporting complexity — you owe taxes on the reinvested dividends even though you did not receive cash. Your brokerage will report this on your tax forms at year-end.

Tax treatment of Verizon dividends

Verizon dividends are taxed as ordinary income or may have access to dividends, depending on how long you have held the stock. If you have owned the stock for more than 60 days around the ex-dividend date (the date that determines who gets the dividend), the dividend is taxed as a may have access to dividend, which has a lower tax rate than ordinary income. If you have owned it for 60 days or fewer, it is taxed as ordinary income at your regular rate.

Your brokerage will report the dividend on a Form 1099-DIV at tax time. If you reinvest dividends through a DRIP, the reinvested amount still counts as taxable income in the year it was paid, even though you did not receive cash. Keep records of all dividend payments and reinvestments for your tax return.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get paid more often than quarterly?

No. Verizon pays dividends quarterly only. Some companies pay monthly or semi-annually, but Verizon has used a quarterly schedule for many years and shows no sign of changing it. If you need more frequent income, you would need to own multiple dividend-paying stocks with staggered payment dates.

What if I buy Verizon stock right before the payment date?

If you buy after the record date, you do not receive that quarter's dividend. You will receive the next quarterly payment. The record date is set by Verizon's board and announced in advance, so you can plan accordingly if timing matters to you.

Does Verizon ever skip or reduce its dividend?

Verizon has a long history of paying and raising its dividend, but the board can change the amount or skip a payment if the company faces severe financial hardship. This is rare for a stable utility company like Verizon. The board votes each quarter on the dividend amount, so it can adjust up or down, though increases are far more common.

How do I know the dividend amount before it is paid?

Verizon announces the dividend amount through a press release on its investor relations website, usually a few weeks before the payment date. Financial news sites and your brokerage also display upcoming dividend amounts. You do not have to guess — the amount is public information before you are paid.

What if I sell my Verizon stock between the record date and payment date?

You still receive the dividend. Once your ownership is recorded on the record date, you are may have access to to that quarter's payment regardless of whether you sell the stock later. The payment goes to your brokerage account, not to the new owner.