How often can I receive dividends?

Dividends are paid out to shareholders of a company after the company declares its profit for a financial year. Dividends are distributed evenly among all ordinary shareholders. Dividends are usually paid once a year. However, it must be noted that not all listed companies pay dividends. Before an investor buys shares in a listed company, he or she must check to confirm if the company does pay dividends and the frequency of these payments.