Inputs and settings
The setup deck is where you tell the Dividend Forecaster what to project and how. It runs in three steps: choose a source of holdings, complete that source, then set the horizon and a few settings. This page documents every control, its accepted values, its default, and how it affects the projection. The Dividend Forecaster is available on Pro Lite and Pro.
Before you begin
- Sign in with a Pro Lite or Pro account. Free accounts see an upgrade prompt for this tool.
- To forecast a saved or combined portfolio, build at least one portfolio first. To forecast a custom list, have your tickers ready.
Quickstart
For the end-to-end run, see Run your first forecast. The short version: set the source in Step 1, complete it in Step 2, set the horizon and settings in Step 3, then select Calculate forecast.
What it shows
The deck is organized as three numbered steps on the left and a summary panel on the right. The controls that appear in Step 2 depend on the source you choose in Step 1. The right-hand panel summarizes the current setup and holds the run button.
Inputs
The controls below are listed in the order you meet them.
Input source
The input source is a single-select dropdown in Step 1 that decides where the holdings come from. It has four choices.
- Existing portfolio: forecast income from one of your saved portfolios.
- Combined portfolios: merge holdings across several portfolios into one run.
- Model portfolio: use a pre-built GNG dividend model portfolio as the input.
- Custom selection: pick tickers and share counts by hand.
The default is Custom selection. Changing the source clears any current results.
Portfolio picker
The portfolio picker appears in Step 2 only when the source is Existing portfolio. It is a dropdown of your own portfolios, each labeled with its position count. Selecting one loads its dividend-paying holdings. If you have no portfolios, an inline notice tells you to create one first.
Model portfolio picker
The model portfolio picker appears in Step 2 only when the source is Model portfolio. It is a dropdown of available GNG model portfolios, each with a position count. Selecting one loads its holdings.
Portfolios to combine
The combine checklist appears in Step 2 only when the source is Combined portfolios. It lists your portfolios with checkboxes. Tick any number to merge their holdings. A line below shows how many of your portfolios are selected.
Add stocks
The add-stocks box appears in Step 2 only when the source is Custom selection. It is a ticker search box that accepts a symbol or a company name. Adding a ticker drops it into an editable list. You can also paste a comma-separated list of symbols to add several at once. Each newly added ticker defaults to 10 shares. Tickers with no dividend history are flagged and excluded from the projection.
Shares
The shares field is a numeric input on each ticker row in the custom list. It accepts fractional shares, with a minimum of 0.01 and a step of 0.01. The default for each new ticker is 10. This sets how many shares of that stock the projection assumes you hold. A Clear all action empties the list.
Time horizon
The time horizon is a dropdown in Step 3 with preset lengths: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10, 15, 20, 25, or 30 years. The default is 10 years. It controls how far out the income is projected.
Tax rate
The tax rate is a numeric percent field in Step 3, with an accepted range of 0 to 40 percent in whole-number steps. The default is 15 percent. It is the qualified-dividend tax rate the tool applies to compute after-tax income. The help text notes typical brackets of 0, 15, or 20 percent.
Reinvestment (DRIP)
The reinvestment toggle in Step 3 controls dividend reinvestment, also called DRIP. The default is on. When on, the projection reinvests each dividend back into more shares of the same stock as it pays, so the share count and income compound over time. When off, dividends are treated as cash and the share count stays flat.
Probabilistic mode (Monte Carlo)
The mode toggle in Step 3 chooses between a probabilistic and a deterministic run. The default is the probabilistic mode. When on, the tool runs many simulated paths and adds a confidence band to the annual chart. When off, it runs a single deterministic projection, one line with no band, and finishes faster.
Simulations
The simulations dropdown in Step 3 appears only when the probabilistic mode is on. It offers 1,000, 5,000, 10,000, 25,000, or 50,000 simulations. The default is 10,000. More simulations give a tighter, more stable confidence band but take longer to run.
Run name
The run name is a free-text field used to label and find the run later in history. It defaults to a label that includes today's date.
Outputs and how to read them
The right-hand panel summarizes your current setup: source, holdings count, current income, horizon, reinvestment state, tax rate, method, and simulation count. It also holds the Calculate forecast button, an estimated runtime, and, where a cap applies, how many forecasts you have left this period.
The button stays disabled until the setup is valid. A setup is valid when a name is set, a source with dividend-paying holdings is loaded, the horizon is at least 1, and the tax rate is within 0 to 40 percent. Any missing items are listed as short prompts beside the button.
How it is calculated
The inputs on this page do not produce a number on their own. They set the source, horizon, reinvestment behavior, tax rate, and run mode that the projection uses. For the math that turns these settings into a forecast, see How it works and the per-figure formulas on Results and metrics.
Data and timing
Holdings come from your chosen source. Each holding's dividend history and payment frequency are read from dividend data delivered through AlphaVantage. Custom tickers are resolved by symbol or company name. Holdings with no dividend history are excluded before the projection runs.
Use cases
- Forecast a saved portfolio without re-entering its holdings.
- Combine several portfolios to see total household dividend income.
- Build a custom watch-list of dividend candidates and test it before you buy.
- Switch reinvestment off to compare a cash-dividend path against a compounding one.
Limitations and disclosures
The projection assumes the share counts you set or load are the shares you hold. It excludes any holding with no dividend history. After-tax figures use the single flat rate you enter, not your full tax situation.
GNG Research provides equity research and educational tools, not investment advice. Nothing on the platform is a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Do your own research and consider your circumstances before making any investment decision.