What does "dividend yield" indicate about a company's shares?

Dividend yield serves as a financial metric that helps investors understand the return they can expect from owning a company's shares in the form of dividends. It is calculated by dividing the annual dividends paid per share by the current market price per share, thereby expressing the dividends as a percentage of the share price. This percentage reflects how much income an investor will receive relative to their investment in the company's stock.

A higher dividend yield can indicate a more attractive income stream for investors seeking regular payouts, making it an important factor for those who rely on dividend income. In contrast, the other concepts mentioned do not accurately capture the essence of what dividend yield represents. For instance, total return from all investments encompasses both capital gains and income, whereas dividend yield specifically focuses on the income component related to dividends. Similarly, the amount of earnings retained within a company pertains to reinvestment rather than direct returns to shareholders, and market share refers to the company's portion of total sales in its industry rather than its profitability or dividend distribution.