How often does FDL pay dividends?

FDL currently distributes every quarter, based on its recent payment history. Its most recent ex-dividend date was Sep 24, 2026 at $0.5139 per share.

When is FDL's next ex-dividend date?

FDL's next ex-dividend date is Dec 11, 2026, with payment on Dec 22, 2026. This date comes from the fund's published schedule. The fund has not announced the amount yet.

What is FDL's dividend yield?

Over the trailing 12 months, FDL paid $1.94 per share, a trailing 12-month yield of 3.9% at the current share price. The recent payout yield, from the latest payments annualized, is 3.8%. The two yields differ when recent payments are larger or smaller than a year ago.

What is FDL's total return with dividends reinvested?

A $10,000 investment in FDL on Oct 12, 2021 would be worth about $19,033 on Oct 13, 2026 with all distributions reinvested (+90.3%). Share price alone moved +51.9% over the same period.

First Trust ETF

FDL Dividend: Next Ex-Date, History & Total Return

First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund

Price: $50.28
Trailing 12-month yield: 3.9%
Recent payout yield: 3.8%
Next ex-date: Dec 11, 2026; Scheduled

52-week range $42.28–$53.46 · +18.3% over 12 months · Data as of Oct 14, 2026

Next FDL Dividend

ScheduledQuarterly payer

Ex-dividend date

Dec 11, 2026

Pay date

Dec 22, 2026

Amount per share

Not declared

Dates from the fund's published schedule. The fund has not announced the amount yet. You must own shares before the ex-date to receive it.

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FDL Dividend History

84 distributions since Jun 23, 2006 · trailing 12-month total $1.94/share (3.9% of current price)

Ex-dividend date	Pay date	Amount per share
Sep 24, 2026	Sep 30, 2026	$0.5139
Jun 25, 2026	—	$0.4732
Mar 26, 2026	—	$0.4005
Dec 12, 2025	—	$0.5499
Sep 25, 2025	—	$0.4240
Jun 26, 2025	—	$0.4584
Mar 27, 2025	—	$0.3573
Dec 31, 2024	—	$0.3000
Dec 13, 2024	—	$0.4898
Sep 26, 2024	—	$0.3881
Jun 27, 2024	—	$0.4854
Mar 21, 2024	—	$0.3320

Total distributions by year

2026 (3 payments)

$1.39/share

2025 (4 payments)

$1.79/share

2024 (5 payments)

$2.00/share

2023 (4 payments)

$1.64/share

2022 (4 payments)

$1.31/share

2021 (5 payments)

$1.63/share

2020 (4 payments)

$1.33/share

2019 (4 payments)

$1.22/share

2018 (4 payments)

$1.08/share

2017 (4 payments)

$0.96/share

2016 (4 payments)

$0.81/share

2015 (4 payments)

$0.86/share

2014 (4 payments)

$0.80/share

2013 (4 payments)

$0.69/share

2012 (4 payments)

$0.71/share

2011 (4 payments)

$0.61/share

2010 (4 payments)

$0.58/share

2009 (4 payments)

$0.57/share

2008 (4 payments)

$0.80/share

2007 (4 payments)

$0.88/share

2006 (3 payments)

$0.60/share

Amounts are adjusted for any share splits or reverse splits, so payments before a split can differ from the amounts the fund announced at the time.

If You Invested $10,000 in FDL

Oct 12, 2021 to Oct 13, 2026, using actual prices and distributions

Show cash-dividend line

End value with DRIP

$19,033

+90.3%

End value, dividends as cash

$17,884

+78.8% · $2,689 cash collected

Share price alone

+51.9%

excluding all dividends

Annualized (DRIP)

+13.7%

over 5.0 years

Historical performance. Reinvestment modeled at the closing price on the first trading day on or after each ex-dividend date. Past results do not predict future returns.

FDL vs SPY

$10,000 invested Oct 12, 2021 to Oct 13, 2026, all dividends reinvested

SPY

FDL (this fund)

$19,033

+90.3% total

SPY

$19,186

+91.9% total

A broad index fund is the usual yardstick for an income fund, since large distributions can still trail the index's total return. All series use actual prices and distributions with reinvestment on the ex-date.

FDL Income Goal Calculator

How much you would need invested today to reach a monthly income target, at the trailing 12-month payout rate

Target monthly income

Investment needed

$155,706

Shares needed

3,097

at $50.28

Effective yield used

3.9%

trailing 12 months

Based on the trailing 12-month distributions per share. Future distributions can be higher or lower; this is not a guarantee of income.

About FDL

Seeks income by holding Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index.

Income: Dividends from the underlying stocks. No options overlay.

Underlying: Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index
Payout: quarterly

FDL Dividend FAQ

How often does FDL pay dividends?: FDL currently distributes every quarter, based on its recent payment history. Its most recent ex-dividend date was Sep 24, 2026 at $0.5139 per share.
When is FDL's next ex-dividend date?: FDL's next ex-dividend date is Dec 11, 2026, with payment on Dec 22, 2026. This date comes from the fund's published schedule. The fund has not announced the amount yet.
What is FDL's dividend yield?: Over the trailing 12 months, FDL paid $1.94 per share, a trailing 12-month yield of 3.9% at the current share price. The recent payout yield, from the latest payments annualized, is 3.8%. The two yields differ when recent payments are larger or smaller than a year ago.
What is FDL's total return with dividends reinvested?: A $10,000 investment in FDL on Oct 12, 2021 would be worth about $19,033 on Oct 13, 2026 with all distributions reinvested (+90.3%). Share price alone moved +51.9% over the same period.

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Data as of Oct 14, 2026 (quotes delayed 15+ minutes). Data is refreshed daily from market sources. Nothing on this page is investment advice. Estimates (next dividend date, amounts, breakeven timelines) are derived from historical distributions and can differ from actual fund announcements. See how these numbers are calculated.