<human>:  I'm looking to buy some stocks and need to know the basics. What is a dividend?
<bot>: A dividend is a payment made by a company to its shareholders out of its profits or reserves. It is usually paid as cash or stock, but other forms of payment are sometimes used. Shareholders typically receive dividends on a regular basis, such as quarterly or annually. The amount of a dividend payment can fluctuate over time, depending on the performance of the company.