Where does the money for dividends come from?

Dividends are typically paid from a company's profits or retained earnings, which are accumulated net income that has not been reinvested in the business. When a company generates profits, its board of directors can decide to distribute a portion of these earnings to shareholders in the form of dividends. Additionally, companies may also use cash reserves to pay dividends, especially if they want to maintain a consistent payout even during less profitable periods.