Ordinary Dividends

Stocks pay them quarterly. They announce them usually a year in advance. They're approved by the board. Investors rely on them. Huge money (like trillions) is invested in income funds in various flavors and mixes of bonds and dividend-bearing stocks.

So when a company cuts or gets rid of its dividend, hugely bad things happen...to the stock, and often to the management. These are wonderfully, boringly ordinary.

So what's not? A special dividend. Companies do declare them. One-timers. Special occasions. Unitary events. Special.