Basis: Trailing twelve months (TTM). Source: stored company filings and market data; unavailable inputs remain N/A.
The yield on cost (YOC) is 1.09%.
YIELD ON COST (YOC)
1.09%
WSM now pays $2.74 per share a year. Measured against the price it actually traded at back then, a long-term holder is earning:
| If you bought | Price then | Yield on cost today |
|---|---|---|
| 10 years ago(2016-08-09) | $26.15 | 10.48% |
| 5 years ago(2021-08-05) | $78.96 | 3.47% |
| 3 years ago(2023-08-08) | $69.79 | 3.93% |
| 1 year ago(2025-08-12) | $206.97 | 1.32% |
| Buying today(at $246.13) | $246.13 | 1.09% |
Projection: starting from today's 1.09% yield, assuming the dividend keeps compounding at its historical 21.0% rate. Boards set dividends each year, so actual figures will differ.
Today
1.09%
In 3 years
2.30%
In 5 years
3.79%
In 10 years
13.12%
Try your own purchase price, dividend and growth rate for Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (WSM).
Starting Yield
1.11%
Ending YOC
19.33%
Year 15 Dividend
$47.57
Cum. Dividends Recd.
$258.74
| Year | Projected Div. / Share | YoY Dividend Hike | Yield on Cost (YOC) | Total Dividends Recd. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial | $2.74 | N/A | 1.11% | $0.00 |
| Year 1 | $3.31 | +20.96% | 1.35% | $3.31 |
| Year 2 | $4.01 | +20.96% | 1.63% | $7.32 |
| Year 3 | $4.85 | +20.96% | 1.97% | $12.17 |
| Year 4 | $5.87 | +20.96% | 2.38% | $18.04 |
| Year 5 | $7.10 | +20.96% | 2.88% | $25.13 |
| Year 6 | $8.58 | +20.96% | 3.49% | $33.72 |
| Year 7 | $10.38 | +20.96% | 4.22% | $44.10 |
| Year 8 | $12.56 | +20.96% | 5.10% | $56.65 |
| Year 9 | $15.19 | +20.96% | 6.17% | $71.84 |
| Year 10 | $18.37 | +20.96% | 7.46% | $90.22 |
| Year 11 | $22.22 | +20.96% | 9.03% | $112.44 |
| Year 12 | $26.88 | +20.96% | 10.92% | $139.32 |
| Year 13 | $32.52 | +20.96% | 13.21% | $171.84 |
| Year 14 | $39.33 | +20.96% | 15.98% | $211.17 |
| Year 15 | $47.57 | +20.96% | 19.33% | $258.74 |
Yield on cost is the dividend yield measured against your original purchase price, not today's price. As a company raises its dividend, the yield on what you actually paid keeps rising even when the market yield holds steady.
Expanded definitions: Investopedia, Wikipedia, Corporate Finance Institute
