Dividend

Dividend (Lat., dividendum, to be divided), the sum available as net profits for division among the shareholders of a railway, bank, or trading company annually, or at such other times as may be fixed. Varying with the profitableness of the enterprise, it must be distinguished from interest on debentures, which is fixed, and no part of which is "earnings of management" in the economic sense. Also, the sum available from a bankrupt's estate to be divided among his creditors in part payment of their claims.