A dividend is a share of a company's earnings paid out to the fund's shareholders. Since a Mutual Fund buys shares of many company securities, the dividends that are paid are combined to determine the fund's dividend. Dividends for the mutual funds available through a retirement plan are reinvested and not distributed in cash to the participant. Dividends, unlike earnings, do not have an immediate impact on your account value. Although the number of shares will increase, the price per share decreases equally.
2007 Dividends (pdf) 2006 Dividends (pdf)