Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) has declared its 352nd consecutive quarterly dividend, extending a payout record that reaches back 88 years. The board approved a dividend of 43 cents per share, payable December 7 to shareholders of record on November 6. At recent prices the stock yields roughly 5.8 percent, one of the larger payouts among established healthcare names.
What happened
The latest declaration sets a fourth-quarter dividend of 43 cents per share, or 1.72 dollars annualized. A streak of 352 straight quarterly payments began before World War II, a span that includes recessions, patent expirations, and multiple restructuring cycles. Few companies in any industry can match that continuity.
Key numbers for Pfizer income investors
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Quarterly dividend | 0.43 dollars per share |
| Annualized dividend | 1.72 dollars per share |
| Payment date | December 7, 2026 |
| Record date | November 6, 2026 |
| Consecutive quarterly dividends | 352, or 88 years |
| Recent share price | About 29.50 dollars |
| Indicated yield | About 5.8 percent |
| 52-week range | 23.62 to 29.88 dollars |
Why the Pfizer dividend appeals to income investors
The current payout is the draw here. A 100,000 dollar position buys roughly 3,387 shares at recent prices, generating about 5,827 dollars in annual dividend income. For a retiree who allocates 5 percent of a 400,000 dollar portfolio to Pfizer, that is 20,000 dollars of stock producing roughly 1,160 dollars a year.
Pfizer shares have also been strong, trading near 29.50 dollars and within reach of the 52-week high of 29.88 dollars. The stock has climbed from a 52-week low of 23.62 dollars. Market data trackers show the dividend currently exceeds Pfizer’s trailing earnings per share, so the payout depends on continued earnings recovery rather than current profits alone. For scale, the payout is nearly triple the yield on Texas Instruments after its own latest increase.
Common mistakes income investors make with high-yield stocks
Chasing the highest yield on the board is the classic error. A payout that exceeds trailing earnings can be cut, and a cut usually drags the share price down with it. Buyers should size Pfizer as one income position among several, not as a substitute for a diversified dividend pipeline.
What to watch for Pfizer
- Third-quarter results that market calendars show scheduled for November 3, which will indicate whether earnings are catching up to the dividend
- The November 6 record date for the December payment
- Whether shares can hold near the 52-week high, since price gains add to total return on top of the yield
- Analyst sentiment, where the consensus rating has held at Hold, leaving room for upgrades if results improve
Bottom line
The 5.8 percent yield and the 88-year streak make Pfizer a legitimate income holding. The open question is earnings coverage, and the November 3 report is the next checkpoint. Income investors who want the payout should size the position knowing that patience may be required. The November 6 record date is the next action point for anyone who wants the December payment.
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