8. Many stocks pay a quarterly dividend - a share of the corporation's profits back to the shareholders. Look for the Dividend and Dividend Yield. The dividend will be the total dollar amount paid over the year. For example, if the dividend is $5.52, then each quarter Mcdonalds will pay $1.38 (x 4 = $5.16) for each share you own. The yield is the 'return', kind of like the interest you might earn from a bank - What is the Dividend Yield for Mcdonalds