QDEF dividend calculator
Project income and DRIP growth for Northern Trust Quality Dividend Defensive ETF, prefilled with its 1.50% forward yield and 5.1% five-year dividend growth. See the full dividend history →
Uses the yield, growth and contribution settings from the DRIP tab. Capital-needed figures below assume no growth; the "years to reach" figure runs the full simulation.
Annual income (left)Portfolio value (right) ·
| Yield | Capital needed for this income |
|---|---|
| 3% | $400,000 |
| 4% | $300,000 |
| 5% | $240,000 |
| 6% | $200,000 |
| 8% | $150,000 |
| 10% | $120,000 |
| 12% | $100,000 |
How many shares of QDEF for monthly income?
| Monthly income | Shares needed | Capital at $91.48 |
|---|---|---|
| $100 | 878 | $80,319 |
| $250 | 2,193 | $200,616 |
| $500 | 4,386 | $401,231 |
| $1,000 | 8,772 | $802,463 |
| $3,000 | 26,316 | $2,407,388 |
At QDEF's forward payout of $1.368 per share per year.
Year-by-year breakdown
| Year | Contributed | Value | Annual income | Cumulative dividends | Yield on cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $16,000 | $16,604 | $204 | $204 | 1.3% |
| 2 | $22,000 | $23,516 | $312 | $516 | 1.4% |
| 3 | $28,000 | $30,755 | $430 | $946 | 1.5% |
| 4 | $34,000 | $38,341 | $557 | $1,503 | 1.6% |
| 5 | $40,000 | $46,295 | $696 | $2,200 | 1.7% |
| 6 | $46,000 | $54,641 | $847 | $3,046 | 1.8% |
| 7 | $52,000 | $63,404 | $1,010 | $4,057 | 1.9% |
| 8 | $58,000 | $72,609 | $1,188 | $5,244 | 2.0% |
| 9 | $64,000 | $82,287 | $1,380 | $6,624 | 2.2% |
| 10 | $70,000 | $92,466 | $1,589 | $8,213 | 2.3% |
| 11 | $76,000 | $103,181 | $1,815 | $10,028 | 2.4% |
| 12 | $82,000 | $114,467 | $2,061 | $12,089 | 2.5% |
| 13 | $88,000 | $126,362 | $2,327 | $14,416 | 2.6% |
| 14 | $94,000 | $138,908 | $2,616 | $17,032 | 2.8% |
| 15 | $100,000 | $152,148 | $2,930 | $19,961 | 2.9% |
| 16 | $106,000 | $166,131 | $3,270 | $23,231 | 3.1% |
| 17 | $112,000 | $180,909 | $3,639 | $26,870 | 3.2% |
| 18 | $118,000 | $196,538 | $4,040 | $30,910 | 3.4% |
| 19 | $124,000 | $213,077 | $4,475 | $35,385 | 3.6% |
| 20 | $130,000 | $230,592 | $4,947 | $40,332 | 3.8% |
Dividend calculator FAQ
What is DRIP?
DRIP stands for dividend reinvestment plan. Instead of taking dividends as cash, each payment automatically buys more shares, so the next payment is larger. Over years this compounding is the main engine of a dividend portfolio.
What is yield on cost?
Yield on cost is the dividends you receive in a year divided by what you originally paid, not the current price. A stock bought at a 3% yield whose dividend has doubled now pays 6% on your original cost.
Is this projection a guarantee?
No. The calculator assumes constant yield, growth and reinvestment and ignores taxes, fees and the chance of a dividend cut. Real results will differ. Treat it as a planning range, not a promise.
Should I use forward or trailing yield?
The per-ticker calculator prefills the forward yield (the indicated annual rate divided by price) because it reflects the current payout. You can override any input.
Projections assume constant yield and growth and ignore taxes, fees and dividend cuts. For education only, not investment advice.