Continuous dividend payout is an integer value between 1 and 8 that represents the number of consecutive years in which a company has consistently distributed dividends to its shareholders without any breaks.

For example, if a company paid dividends in the years 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, and 2023 without any gaps in dividend payments, the continuous dividend payout number would be 3, indicating three consecutive years of dividend payments.

This metric is used by investors to assess the company's track record of returning value to shareholders through consistent dividend payments over a period of time. A higher continuous dividend payout number signifies a longer history of reliable dividend payments, which can be seen as a positive indicator of the company's financial stability and commitment to rewarding shareholders.