How to Get Paid Dividends Every Month
Updated · stock lists refresh daily
Key facts: monthly dividend income
Data as of · Source: SmarterDividends data
- Owning at least one quarterly dividend stock from each of the three payment schedules (January/April/July/October, February/May/August/November and March/June/September/December) produces a dividend in every month of the year.
- As of Oct 19, 2026, 56 U.S. dividend stocks that pay in January, April, July and October have a yield of 2% to 9%, a SmarterDividends safety grade of A or B and at least five years of dividend raises.
- As of Oct 19, 2026, 38 U.S. dividend stocks that pay in February, May, August and November have a yield of 2% to 9%, a SmarterDividends safety grade of A or B and at least five years of dividend raises.
- As of Oct 19, 2026, 90 U.S. dividend stocks that pay in March, June, September and December have a yield of 2% to 9%, a SmarterDividends safety grade of A or B and at least five years of dividend raises.
- As an illustration, $30,000 split equally between MRK, ABBV, XOM would pay about $705 a year at their yields as of Oct 19, 2026, roughly $59 a month, with one dividend arriving every month.
Cite this page
SmarterDividends, "How to Get Paid Dividends Every Month," updated Oct 19, 2026, https://smarterdividends.com/monthly-dividend-portfolio
How the three schedules fit together
Most U.S. companies pay dividends four times a year, and almost all of them use one of three calendars. A company on the January/April/July/October schedule pays in those four months and nothing in the others.
Add a company on the February/May/August/November schedule and a third on March/June/September/December, and every month brings a payment. You don't need equal amounts in each; you need at least one payer per schedule.
Stocks that pay every month, mostly real estate investment trusts and business development companies, do the same job in one holding. They tend to have higher yields and higher risk, so many investors use them as a supplement rather than the core.
Worked example: $30,000 across the three schedules
| Month | Paid by | Approximate income |
|---|---|---|
| January | MRK (2.33%) | $58 |
| February | ABBV (2.42%) | $61 |
| March | XOM (2.30%) | $58 |
| April | MRK (2.33%) | $58 |
| May | ABBV (2.42%) | $61 |
| June | XOM (2.30%) | $58 |
| July | MRK (2.33%) | $58 |
| August | ABBV (2.42%) | $61 |
| September | XOM (2.30%) | $58 |
| October | MRK (2.33%) | $58 |
| November | ABBV (2.42%) | $61 |
| December | XOM (2.30%) | $58 |
| Total for the year | $705 | |
Each quarterly payment is the holding's annual yield divided by four. Real payments vary with share prices, dividend changes and exact pay dates; some months may receive two payments if a pay date shifts.
Higher-quality stocks that pay in January, April, July and October
Higher-quality stocks that pay in February, May, August and November
Higher-quality stocks that pay in March, June, September and December
Stocks that pay every month
Frequently asked questions
How can I get paid dividends every month?
Either own at least one quarterly payer from each of the three payment schedules, so that something pays every month, or own stocks and funds that pay monthly, such as many REITs and business development companies. Most investors use a mix of both.
How much do I need to invest to get $1,000 a month in dividends?
$12,000 a year divided by the portfolio's yield. At a 4% yield that is $300,000; at 3% it is $400,000; at 6% it is $200,000. Higher yields need less money but often come with more risk of a cut.
Are monthly dividend stocks better than quarterly ones?
Not by themselves. Monthly payers smooth your cash flow, but many are REITs, BDCs or funds with higher yields and higher risk. A portfolio of quality quarterly payers spread across the three schedules also pays every month.
Which stocks pay dividends in January, April, July and October?
MRK, PM, MO, MDT, ADP, USB, MDLZ, ITW are higher-quality examples. The January page lists every company on that schedule.
Which stocks pay dividends in February, May, August and November?
ABBV, PG, MS, TXN, VZ, ABT, BMY, SBUX are higher-quality examples.
Which stocks pay dividends in March, June, September and December?
XOM, JNJ, CVX, UNH, BAC, HD, SHEL, GS are higher-quality examples. This is the most common quarterly schedule.
Are dividends paid on the same day each month?
No. Each company sets its own pay date, often around the same day of the month each time. The tables show each company's usual pay day.
Related
The example is an illustration of how payment schedules combine, not a recommendation to buy any stock. Yields change daily and dividends can be cut.