Dividends are real and tangible profits an investor receives from owning shares of stocks. It is one of several ways to make money from stock investing. Other incomes from stocks may include price increases (or capital appreciation) and stock rights.
Dividends may be in the form of cash (and are called cash dividends) or in the form of stocks (hence, called stock dividends). To learn more how to profit from stocks, read our article on How to Make Money from the Stock Market.