Dividends distributed by joint-stock companies generally take the following forms.

Dividends distributed by joint-stock companies generally include cash dividends, stock dividends, property dividends and debt dividends.

1. Cash dividend refers to the dividend paid to shareholders by a joint-stock company in cash, which is the main form of dividend payment.

2. Stock dividend refers to the way that a company pays dividends by issuing additional shares.

3. Property dividend refers to the dividend paid by the company with assets other than cash, mainly including physical dividend and securities dividend.

4. Debt dividend means that the company increases the creditor's rights of shareholders as the investment reward distributed to shareholders. At this time, shareholders become creditors of the company. At this time, the company's total assets remain unchanged, liabilities increase, and net asset value decreases.