Dividend Reinvestment (DRIP) Calculator
Compound Wealth
Frequently Asked Questions
- A DRIP is a program that allows investors to automatically reinvest their cash dividends into additional shares or fractional shares of the underlying stock, compounding growth over time.
- When you reinvest dividends, you acquire more shares. In the next period, those additional shares also pay dividends, which are reinvested again. This create an exponential compounding effect even if the stock price remains flat.
- Yes, in most jurisdictions including the US. Reinvested dividends are typically treated as taxable income in the year they are paid, according to IRS guidelines. You should keep track of reinvestments as they increase your cost basis.
- Appreciation is the expected annual percentage growth of the stock price itself. The calculator combines both dividend compounding and capital appreciation for the total future value.
- More frequent compounding (e.g., monthly vs. annually) leads to slightly faster growth because dividends are reinvested sooner, allowing them to earn their own dividends earlier.