# Stocks Paying Dividends in October 2026: Full Schedule, Dates and Amounts
October is a busy month for income investors. Dozens of major US companies send cash to their shareholders, and if you own the right stocks (or want to), knowing the exact dates matters. Below is an organized schedule of well-known companies paying dividends in October 2026, complete with ex-dividend dates, payment dates and the amount per share. First, a quick refresher on the one date that actually determines whether you get paid.
The Most Important Date: The Ex-Dividend Date
If you take one thing from this article, make it this: to receive a dividend, you must own the stock before its ex-dividend date.
- Ex-dividend date: the cutoff. Buy the stock on or after this date, and you do not get the upcoming dividend, the seller does. Buy before it, and the payment is yours.
- Payment date: the day the cash actually lands in your account.
So the ex-date is the deadline; the payment date is the payday. Everything below is organized by payment date, but always check the ex-date if you are buying to capture a specific dividend. For a deeper primer, see our dividend investing strategy guide and the glossary entry on dividend yield.
October 2026 Dividend Schedule
All figures are the quarterly cash dividend per share, based on the latest declared schedules. Dates are as currently scheduled and can change, always verify before trading.
| Company (Ticker) | Ex-Dividend Date | Payment Date | Amount / Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| FedEx (FDX) | Sep 14 | Oct 1 | $1.39 |
| Coca-Cola (KO) | Sep 15 | Oct 1 | $0.52 |
| Public Storage (PSA) | Sep 15 | Oct 6 | $3.00 |
| Merck (MRK) | Sep 15 | Oct 7 | $0.83 |
| Salesforce (CRM) | Sep 17 | Oct 8 | $0.43 |
| Best Buy (BBY) | Sep 17 | Oct 8 | $0.96 |
| Royal Caribbean (RCL) | Sep 17 | Oct 8 | $1.25 |
| Altria (MO) | Sep 15 | Oct 9 | $1.06 |
| Illinois Tool Works (ITW) | Sep 30 | Oct 9 | $1.61 |
| State Street (STT) | Oct 1 | Oct 13 | $0.84 |
| Lam Research (LRCX) | Sep 23 | Oct 14 | $0.26 |
| Mondelez (MDLZ) | Sep 30 | Oct 14 | $0.50 |
| Thermo Fisher (TMO) | Sep 15 | Oct 15 | $0.45 |
| Sempra (SRE) | Sep 24 | Oct 15 | $0.65 |
| Essex Property Trust (ESS) | Sep 30 | Oct 15 | $2.58 |
| Republic Services (RSG) | Oct 2 | Oct 15 | $0.63 |
| Medtronic (MDT) | Sep 25 | Oct 16 | $0.71 |
| Intuit (INTU) | Oct 8 | Oct 16 | $1.20 |
| Dollar General (DG) | Oct 6 | Oct 20 | $0.59 |
| Cisco (CSCO) | Oct 2 | Oct 21 | $0.42 |
| Roper Technologies (ROP) | Oct 2 | Oct 21 | $0.89 |
| Sysco (SYY) | Oct 2 | Oct 23 | $0.54 |
| Comcast (CMCSA) | Oct 7 | Oct 28 | $0.33 |
| Stryker (SYK) | Sep 30 | Oct 30 | $0.87 |
| EOG Resources (EOG) | Oct 16 | Oct 30 | $1.02 |
| Dell (DELL) | Oct 20 | Oct 30 | $0.58 |
Notable Names on the October List
A few standouts worth calling out:
- Coca-Cola (KO) is a Dividend King, with more than 60 straight years of increases, the definition of dependable income.
- Public Storage (PSA) and Essex Property Trust (ESS) are REITs, which tend to pay chunky dividends, though remember their payouts are usually taxed as ordinary income.
- Altria (MO) is famous for one of the highest yields among large US stocks.
- Tech names like Cisco (CSCO), Intuit (INTU) and Dell (DELL) are a reminder that dividends are not just for old-economy companies anymore.
How to Use This List
A dividend schedule is a starting point, not a buy list. A high or upcoming dividend alone is never a reason to buy a stock. Before adding any name, look at the whole picture: the company's health, its payout sustainability, and its valuation. Chasing a dividend into a weak business is a classic beginner mistake.
If you are building an income portfolio, it is worth understanding the gold-standard income stocks first, our guides to the Dividend Aristocrats (25+ years of raises) and Dividend Kings (50+ years) are the best place to start. And do not forget taxes: how much you keep depends on whether your dividends are qualified or ordinary.
You can research any of these companies on their stock pages, like Coca-Cola (KO) or Cisco (CSCO), and screen for more income ideas with our Stock Screener.
The Bottom Line
October delivers dividends from a broad mix of American blue chips, consumer staples, healthcare, tech, industrials and REITs. Use the schedule above to track the dates that matter, but always pair it with real research into each company's quality and value. Reliable income comes from owning great businesses, not from chasing the next payment date.
Our take: Dividend calendars are a handy planning tool, especially for reinvesting or living off your income, but let quality lead. Focus on durable payers (think Aristocrats and Kings), mind the ex-dividend dates if timing a purchase, hold income-heavy REITs in tax-advantaged accounts, and let those payments compound over time. That is how dividend investing quietly builds wealth.---
This article is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice. Dividend amounts and dates are as scheduled and can change; always verify with the company or your broker before making decisions. Always do your own research before investing.
