DRIP Calculator
Analyze historical dividend reinvestment and compare DRIP against taking cash dividends.
Apple Inc. (AAPL) — Dividend Reinvestment
NMS exchange · 20 historical payments from 2021-05-07 to 2026-02-09 · Current price $347.10
DRIP Calculator: compare with and without reinvestment
A dividend reinvestment plan (DRIP) automatically uses dividend income to buy more shares. This calculator compares holding the same starting position with reinvestment enabled against taking each dividend as cash, using recorded dividend amounts and the nearest available historical share prices.
How the historical simulation works
Choose a dividend-paying ticker, enter the initial investment amount, and adjust the period. The starting shares equal your investment divided by the first usable historical ex-dividend price. For each dividend payment, the DRIP case purchases new shares = shares held × dividend per share ÷ price at payment. Those extra shares participate in subsequent payments. The cash-dividend case keeps its share count fixed and accumulates cash distributions.
The calculator shows both ending portfolio values, extra reinvested shares, dividend income, annual-income charts, and the growth timeline. Toggle DRIP to examine each scenario. Historical data and the available period vary by ticker; the tool does not generate future price or dividend forecasts.
Taxes, assumptions & limitations
Results are pre-tax and exclude fees and slippage, assuming fractional shares are supported. The model uses recorded prices on or before dividend ex-dates and the latest available share value. Your brokerage's reinvestment execution price may differ. Reinvested dividends are generally taxable in a US taxable account even when no cash is paid out. This calculator is educational, not personalized investment or tax advice.
To explore price appreciation and monthly contributions instead, try the Stock Return Calculator.