How are dividends paid out?

Question:

Very new to the whole stock market deal, so I was wondering, how do companies actually pay out dividends? I use Scottrade. I currently own 2 shares of Boeing. The ex-div-date is 8-9-06, the dividend date is 9-1-06. I should expect 1.20 per share on sept 1 then, correct? Will this just magically appear in my cash account when they are paid? boeing doesn't actually mail checks to every individual shareholder do they? that would be ridiculous!

Answer:
They show up in mine as cash..

Your avatar freaks me out a little, btw. clint eastwood-like

Dividends are paid out either in cash (a check) to the owner of the shares or in additional shares.

Every company has a department (in Acctn'g or investor relations usually) that handels this. contact the company directly & ask them.

I assume you have left your shares on deposit with Scottrade and have not had the actual shares issued out to you. You might want to call Scottrade & ask them. They'll know.

Depending on how your account is set up it may just appear in your scottrade account. However many companies like scottrade have accounts set up so that dividends are automatically re-invested in that company. Meaning it would take the $1.20 per share dividend and buy that much more boeing stock with it.

They are susually deposited directly into your brokerage account.

How are dividends paid out?

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