Here's How Many Shares of Apple Stock You'd Need for $100 in Yearly Dividends
2026-10-24 20:49
•James Brumley •The Motley Fool
••• • Axe Cap view
Apple Dividends: Why Income Investors Should Look Elsewhere
Apple’s low dividend yield makes it an unattractive choice for income-focused investors, despite strong growth potential.
Apple’s payout of about 0.3% in dividends means you’d need to own close to 100 shares—costing over R500,000 at current exchange rates—to earn just R1,600 annually. That’s not the kind of income stream South African investors typically seek, especially when there are better local options. The company’s preference goes to stock buybacks, which boost share price rather than steady cash dividends. For JSE investors chasing yield, banks like Standard Bank or FirstRand still offer more reliable dividends, often in the 5-7% range. But if you want capital growth, Apple remains a global leader, just not a dividend play. Of course, if the rand weakens strongly or local interest rates spike, the argument could shift. this is just our opinion and not financial advice
Avoid Apple for income portfolios; instead, favor high-dividend JSE counters like Standard Bank or Sanlam. For growth, hold Apple with the understanding dividend yield will remain minimal.
- AAPL
- USD/ZAR
- Standard Bank
- Strong USD appreciation reducing rand returns
- Unexpected dividend policy changes at Apple
6/10
Apple pays dividends but with a very low yield of 0.3% ($1.08 per share), making it unsuitable for income-focused investors. To generate $100 in annual dividends would require 93 shares costing over $32,000. The company prioritizes stock buybacks ($25.8 billion) over dividend payments ($4 billion), positioning Apple primarily as a growth stock rather than an income investment.
Our take is based on reporting first published by The Motley Fool.