FDL Dividend Calculator
Project dividend-reinvestment (DRIP) growth, income, and yield on cost for First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund (FDL). Pre-filled with illustrative figures — edit them with current numbers.
About FDL
FDL tracks the Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index, which holds the 100 highest-yielding US stocks that have a consistent record of paying dividends and the apparent ability to sustain them. The yield-weighted screen tilts toward established, higher-yielding companies.
FDL is a high-dividend etf from First Trust that distributes quarterly. Because dividend investing is about both income and the growth of that income, the calculator above lets you model three things independently for FDL: the starting yield, how fast the dividend grows each year, and how fast the share price appreciates. That separation matters most for high-yield versus dividend-growth choices, where a lower starting yield that grows quickly can overtake a higher static yield over time.
How to use the FDL calculator
- Replace the pre-filled yield with FDL’s current dividend yield from your broker or the fund’s page.
- Set your initial investment and monthly contribution.
- Estimate the dividend growth rate and price growth rate. For a high-dividend etf these can differ a lot — be realistic rather than optimistic.
- Choose your dividend tax rate and whether to reinvest (DRIP), then read the projected value, dividends received, and yield on cost.
The full math, including how the money-weighted return is computed, is on the methodology page.
FDL dividend calculator FAQ
- How does this FDL dividend calculator work?
- It runs a month-by-month projection: each month it adds your contribution, pays a dividend based on the yield you enter, optionally reinvests it (DRIP), then applies price growth. The page loads with illustrative figures for First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund; replace them with the current yield and your own assumptions for an accurate projection.
- What yield should I use for FDL?
- Use FDL's current dividend yield from your broker or the fund page, not the example value pre-filled here — yields move with the share price and the distribution. Enter the trailing or forward yield, whichever you prefer to model.
- Does FDL pay monthly or quarterly?
- First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund pays quarterly. This calculator projects annual totals and compounds monthly, so it works the same regardless of the actual payment schedule — the quarterly cadence just affects when cash actually lands in your account.
- Is the FDL projection a guarantee?
- No. It is an educational projection based on the assumptions you enter, held constant. Real dividends can rise, be cut, or stop, and prices fluctuate. Use it to compare scenarios, not to predict returns, and never rely on a single calculator for an investment decision.