Special Dividend Syntax in Excel

We should have two separate codes in excel for normal dividends and special dividends. This would be useful for screens we build in excel for normal dividend growth over specific periods of time. Right now when we build these screens, the special dividends artificially inflate the normal dividend in certain periods making symbols that have truly grown their dividends consistently over periods of time not get caught in the screen because of the small decline from special dividend back to a normal dividend.

The best example is CAT; if we build a screen for dividends that have grown consistently over a 5 year period this company won't be a company that makes it through the screen because the special dividend periods actually decline back to normal although in reality the normal dividend has consistently grown in this period.