I've seen it go different ways depending on where ones account is. I have an IRA where they reinvest the dividends each Quarter by buying more shares. Otherwise you can have the Dividend come back into your account as cash or if some prefer have a check sent.
Dividends vary based on earnings, a companies performance etc.... Just a few weeks back I heard on the radio on a business talk show here that Johnson Controls (local WI Co) just increased their Dividend and from what the guy said has done so for something like the past 15 or 18 years. All companies that pay them out vary on the amount and some actually withdraw them in times of lower earnings.
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