Ex-Dividend Reminder: Greenhill & Company, First Trust MLP and Energy Income Fund and Qualcomm

Looking at the universe of stocks we cover at Dividend Channel, on 3/2/15, Greenhill & Company Incorporated (NYSE: GHL), First Trust MLP and Energy Income Fund (NYSE: FEI), and Qualcomm , Inc. (NASD: QCOM) will all trade ex-dividend for their respective upcoming dividends. Greenhill & Company Incorporated will pay its quarterly dividend of $0.45 on 3/18/15, First Trust MLP and Energy Income Fund will pay its monthly dividend of $0.1134 on 3/16/15, and Qualcomm, Inc. will pay its quarterly dividend of $0.42 on 3/25/15.

Click here to learn which 25 S.A.F.E. dividend stocks should be on your radar screen, at DividendChannel.com »

As a percentage of GHL's recent stock price of $39.22, this dividend works out to approximately 1.15%, so look for shares of Greenhill & Company Incorporated to trade 1.15% lower — all else being equal — when GHL shares open for trading on 3/2/15. Similarly, investors should look for FEI to open 0.54% lower in price and for QCOM to open 0.58% lower, all else being equal.

Below are dividend history charts for GHL, FEI, and QCOM, showing historical dividends prior to the most recent ones declared.

Greenhill & Company Incorporated (NYSE: GHL):

First Trust MLP and Energy Income Fund (NYSE: FEI):

Qualcomm, Inc. (NASD: QCOM):

In general, dividends are not always predictable, following the ups and downs of company profits over time. Therefore, a good first due diligence step in forming an expectation of annual yield going forward, is looking at the history above, for a sense of stability over time. This can help in judging whether the most recent dividends from these companies are likely to continue. If they do continue, the current estimated yields on annualized basis would be 4.59% for Greenhill & Company Incorporated, 6.45% for First Trust MLP and Energy Income Fund, and 2.34% for Qualcomm, Inc..

In Thursday trading, Greenhill & Company Incorporated shares are currently up about 0.1%, First Trust MLP and Energy Income Fund shares are down about 0.1%, and Qualcomm, Inc. shares are up about 0.3% on the day.