Dividend amount?

We have one of those on-line investment accounts and recently received a $196 dividend. I've heard of dividends, but this amount? Is this right? We only own a few shares. Thanks.

It's impossible to say without knowing what company stock you own, or which mutual fund, and how many shares. Yahoo Finance and Google Finance will have the dividend amount listed for your holding. You just have to multiply it by however many shares you have.

Odds are that it is correct, though. I don't think I've ver heard of a company messing up and giving away too much money.

Not the question of number of shares but, the value of share market, if ti is reputed & reliable company. Yes, the amount is not suprised one.

However, plesae check with accounts department of company in which you have shares.

Best of Luck.

Typically, a stock is paying dividends around 1-2% of its market price. Meaning, a $50 per share stock likely will have annual dividends around $1. So, unless your few shares are really expensive, this does seem odd.

Dividend amounts, of course, are set by the company and should rise over time (assuming it is a good business with growing profits). Sometimes companies end up with a glut of cash and pay a one time special dividend to disperse this cash to the investors.