Verizon pays dividends four times per year, with payments typically arriving in February, May, August, and November

Verizon Communications distributes its dividend quarterly, meaning you receive four separate payments each year rather than one annual payout. The exact payment dates shift slightly year to year, but they consistently fall in the middle of these four months. If you own Verizon stock or hold it through a mutual fund or retirement account, you'll see deposits land on these quarterly schedules.

The timing matters because dividend payments depend on when you owned the stock, not when the money arrives in your account. Verizon sets a record date — typically about two weeks before the payment date — and only shareholders who owned stock on that date receive the upcoming dividend. If you buy Verizon stock after the record date, you won't receive that quarter's payment; you'll start collecting dividends the following quarter.

Key Takeaways

  • Verizon pays dividends in February, May, August, and November, with exact dates varying slightly each year.
  • You must own the stock on the record date (usually two weeks before payment) to receive that quarter's dividend.
  • The ex-dividend date is one business day before the record date, and buying stock on or after that date disqualifies you from the upcoming payment.
  • You can find the exact payment schedule on Verizon's investor relations website, which updates the calendar annually.
  • Dividend amounts per share change each quarter and depend on Verizon's board decisions, not on a fixed schedule.

How the record date and ex-dividend date affect your payment

The record date is the cutoff: own the stock on that day, and you're may have access to to the dividend. Own it the day before, and you receive payment. Own it the day after, and you don't. Verizon typically sets the record date about two weeks before the actual payment date.

The ex-dividend date — the date on which you must own the stock to receive the dividend — is one business day before the record date. This is the date that matters if you're buying or selling. If you purchase Verizon stock on the ex-dividend date or later, you won't receive the upcoming dividend payment. If you sell on or after the ex-dividend date, you still receive the dividend because you owned it before that date.

Stock prices typically drop slightly on the ex-dividend date by roughly the amount of the dividend per share, because new buyers are no longer may have access to to that payment. This is a normal market adjustment, not a loss.

Finding Verizon's exact dividend payment dates

Verizon publishes its full dividend calendar on its investor relations website (investor.verizon.com). The calendar shows the record date, ex-dividend date, and payment date for each quarter, updated annually. You can also find this information through your brokerage account — most brokers display upcoming dividend dates in your holdings or in a dedicated dividends section.

If you hold Verizon stock through a 401(k), IRA, or other retirement account, your plan administrator will handle the dividend deposit automatically. The payment goes into your account on the scheduled date, and you can see it reflected in your account statement.

What determines the dividend amount each quarter

Verizon's board of directors votes on the dividend amount each quarter, and the payout is not fixed. The company has a history of raising its dividend annually, but the amount per share can vary from quarter to quarter. You'll see the announced dividend amount in Verizon's press releases, typically issued a few weeks before the ex-dividend date.

The dividend per share is what matters to you: if Verizon announces a dividend of $0.64 per share and you own 100 shares, you'll receive $64 before taxes. Dividend income is taxable in the year you receive it, and the tax treatment depends on whether the dividend is may have access to or non-may have access to — your brokerage will report this on your tax forms.

How dividends arrive in your account

If you own Verizon stock directly through a brokerage account, the dividend deposits as cash on the payment date. You can then spend it, reinvest it, or leave it sitting in your account. Some brokerages offer a dividend reinvestment plan (DRIP), which automatically uses your dividend to buy additional Verizon shares instead of depositing cash. This can be useful if you want to compound your holdings over time, though it creates more tax paperwork.

If you own Verizon through a mutual fund or exchange-traded fund (ETF), the fund receives the dividend and either distributes it to you or reinvests it depending on the fund's structure. Check your fund's prospectus or your account statements to see how dividends are handled.

Reinvestment options and tax considerations

Reinvesting dividends through a DRIP means you buy fractional shares automatically, which can help you build your position without paying trading fees. However, each purchase is a taxable event, and you'll owe taxes on the dividend income whether you reinvest it or take it as cash. The IRS taxes may have access to dividends at preferential rates (0%, 15%, or 20% depending on your income), while non-may have access to dividends are taxed as ordinary income.

Keep records of your dividend reinvestments because they affect your cost basis — the total amount you've invested in the stock — which you'll need when you eventually sell shares. Your brokerage provides this information on your tax statements, but tracking it yourself prevents errors.

What happens if you miss a dividend payment date

If you owned Verizon stock on the record date but didn't receive your dividend by the stated payment date, contact your brokerage first. Delays occasionally happen due to processing issues, especially if you recently transferred shares between accounts. Your broker can confirm whether the payment was sent and trace where it went.

If you owned the stock but the payment never arrived and your broker confirms it was sent, check your bank account and any pending deposits. Dividend payments sometimes take a few business days to clear. If the payment is genuinely missing after two weeks, file a claim with your brokerage — they're responsible for ensuring you receive dividends you're may have access to to.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to own Verizon stock for a full quarter to get the dividend?

No. You only need to own the stock on the record date, which is typically one day in the quarter. You can buy it the day before the record date and still receive the dividend, or sell it the day after and still receive it. The length of ownership doesn't matter.

Can I buy Verizon stock right before the ex-dividend date and still get paid?

Only if you buy before the ex-dividend date. The ex-dividend date is the cutoff — buy on or after that date, and you won't receive the upcoming dividend. You'll start collecting dividends the following quarter.

How much tax do I owe on Verizon dividends?

Verizon dividends are typically may have access to dividends, taxed at preferential rates of 0%, 15%, or 20% depending on your total income and filing status. Your brokerage will report the dividend amount and type on your 1099 form. Non-may have access to dividends are taxed as ordinary income at your regular tax rate.

What if Verizon cuts its dividend?

Verizon has raised its dividend for decades, but dividend cuts are possible if the company faces financial stress. If a cut occurs, you'll receive the lower amount on the next payment date. The company announces dividend changes through press releases weeks in advance.

Can I set up automatic reinvestment of my Verizon dividends?

Yes, through a dividend reinvestment plan (DRIP) offered by most brokerages. You enroll in your account settings, and future dividends automatically buy additional Verizon shares. You still owe taxes on the dividend income, and each purchase affects your cost basis for tax purposes.