Dollar General (DG) is about to report its fiscal first-quarter 2026 earnings on Tuesday, June 2, and the discount retailer is also handing out its next quarterly dividend of $0.59 per share. Based on historical timing, that dividend will likely go ex-dividend in early July and pay out in late July.

Right now, Dollar General's trailing twelve-month dividend payout is $2.36 per share, giving it a dividend yield of about 2.04%. That's not a jaw-dropping yield, but it's steady—and if you're looking to generate a regular $500 per month from dividends, it's worth a closer look.

So, how much would you need to invest to pocket $500 a month?

Let's do the math. To earn $500 per month, or $6,000 annually, from dividends alone, you'd need an investment of roughly $279,620—that's about 2,542 shares at the current price of $109.93. If $500 a month sounds too ambitious, a more modest $100 per month ($1,200 per year) would require about $55,880, or 508 shares.

The calculation is simple: divide your desired annual income by the annual dividend per share. For $6,000: $6,000 ÷ $2.36 = 2,542 shares. For $1,200: $1,200 ÷ $2.36 = 508 shares.

Of course, dividend yields aren't static. They change as the stock price moves and as the company adjusts its dividend. Here's how it works: if a stock pays an annual dividend of $2 and trades at $50, the yield is 4%. If the stock price jumps to $60, the yield drops to 3.33%. If it falls to $40, the yield rises to 5%. Similarly, if Dollar General increases its dividend, the yield goes up—assuming the stock price stays put. If it cuts the dividend, the yield falls.

What about the earnings report?

Analysts expect Dollar General to post revenue of $10.82 billion for the first quarter, a 3.8% increase year-over-year, and earnings per share of $1.89. That's a slight dip from the $1.93 EPS reported last quarter. Ahead of the report, Oppenheimer analyst Rupesh Parikh maintained an Outperform rating on the stock but lowered his price target from $170 to $150.

Shares of Dollar General slipped 0.68% on Monday, closing at $109.93. Whether the earnings report gives the stock a boost or not, the dividend math remains the same—if you're looking for passive income, DG can help you get there.