What Is The Ex-dividend Date? - MoneyByRamey.com (2024)

What Is The Ex-dividend Date? - MoneyByRamey.com (1)

What is the Ex-Dividend Date?

In the world of dividend investing, investors are looking to receive those routine dividend payments in the form of straight cash… or accumulating share count via a Dividend Reinvesting Plan. However, there are steps that must be followed to make it an orderly process. In this post, we’ll detail those steps and answer the important question: What is the Ex-Dividend Date?

May 2019 Ex-Dividends

In looking at my portfolio, I have a few stocks going Ex-Dividend in May 2019 (highlighted in blue).

What Is The Ex-dividend Date? - MoneyByRamey.com (2)

Source: Nasdaq Smart Portfolio

I was going to share this as an image on my social media but quickly realized that many people might not know what Ex-Dividend meant, so I decided to drop a knowledge bomb.

The Ex-Dividend Date, sometimes referred to as the Ex-Date, is an important consideration for any investor. It is the last day to own a stock and be eligible for receiving the dividend payment. The Ex-Dividend Date is usually set one day before the Record Date (also known as the Date of Record).

The Four Step Dividend Payable Process

Typically, a company will go through a four-step process when paying a dividend:

Step 1: Dividend Declaration

Here the company’s board of directors will declare a dividend payment for a specific amount, with payout occurring at a specific date. Keep in mind that a company does not have to pay a dividend; it is a highly elective expense for the company.

Some companies have a policy of paying a routine dividend so it is expected that the dividend will be declared in unison with the earnings report. However, even with these companies, many investors will be watching to see how much the dividend payment will be, especially when an ‘increase’ is expected.

Step 2: Set the Ex-Dividend Date

This is the last date that the investor has to own the stock before it goes ‘ex-dividend’. This is usually one day before the record date but in some cases, it could be earlier (e.g. 2 or 3 days before the record date).

For example, if a stock goes Ex-Dividend on 10/23, that means an investor must own the stock by the end of the day on 10/23 to be eligible for receiving the dividend payment. If the investor buys the stock on 10/24, they will still have ownership of the stock, they will just have missed out on the dividend payment.

Step 3: Set the Record Date

The Record Date (or Date of Record) is the day when the company reviews its records to see who owns the stock as of the ex-dividend date, and thus who is eligible to receive the dividend payment.

Whomever is listed as the stockholder of record at the end of the day on the ex-dividend date will be the investor to receive the dividend payment.

Step 4: Set the Dividend Payable Date

The dividend payable (aka dividend payment) date is the date when the actual dividend is paid out. Often times this is a few weeks or so after the record date, but that is not a hard and fast rule. Investors can elect to receive a dividend payment via cash or in the form of additional shares (if offered via DRIP).

Dividends Payable Correlate With Earnings Reports

Most companies that elect to pay a routine dividend will do so in unison with their quarterly earnings report. For example in my dividend portfolio, all of my dividend stocks currently pay quarterly dividends except two: $CALM and $BUD. CALM has an erratic dividend at the moment and BUD only pays two times per year.

Other than those two, I currently expect all of my stocks to pay their dividends in routine fashion. Since I already own the positions, I am not very concerned about the ex-dividend date, but more interested in the dividend payment date.

However, if I’m anticipating adding more of a particular stock or in buying a new company, the ex-dividend date becomes very important to me. In my dividend investing strategy, the chance to have more share accumulation via having my stocks on a DRIP situation is one that excites and energizes me.

Hopefully this helped shed some light on the ex-dividend date and the process behind a dividend payment. Keep coming back to our Dividend Learning Center as I’ll keep publishing more and more information on dividend stocks. Also be sure to get on our email list, Live Free and Div Hard to continue improving your financial acumen!

Disclosure: Long $T, $BUD, $SBUX, $ADM, $PG, $BP, $CTL, $PFE, $WFC, $XOM, $KHC, $SJM, $BG, $NWL, $TSN, $INGR, $CMI, $CALM, $KO, $WY, $MMM, $WRK, $UPS, $GT, $SPTN, $F, $DAL, $AAPL

Disclaimer: (1) All the information above is not a recommendation for or against any investment vehicle or money management strategy. It should not be construed as advice and each individual that invests needs to take up any decision with the utmost care and diligence. Please seek the advice of a competent business professional before making any financial decision.

(2) This website may contain affiliate links. My goal is to continue to provide you free content and to do so, I may market affiliates from time-to-time. I would appreciate you supporting the sponsors of MoneyByRamey.com as they keep me in business!

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What Is The Ex-dividend Date? - MoneyByRamey.com (2024)

FAQs

How to find the ex-dividend date? ›

Existing shareholders of a company's stock receive notification, typically by mail, when the company declares a dividend payment. Included in the information, along with the amount of the dividend, the record date, and the payment date is the ex-dividend date.

What is the dividend date for ex-dividend? ›

The ex-dividend date or "ex-date" is usually one business day before the record date. Investors who purchase a stock on its ex-dividend date or after will not receive the next dividend payment. Instead, the seller gets the dividend.

Is it good to buy stock on an ex-dividend date? ›

If you buy on the ex-dividend date or later, you won't get the dividend. The ex-dividend date is in place to allow pending stock trades to settle. It's why investors pay close attention to both the ex dividend date and record date when buying shares.

Can you sell a stock on the ex-dividend date and still get the dividend? ›

Another important note to consider: as long as you purchase a stock prior to the ex-dividend date, you can then sell the stock any time on or after the ex-dividend date and still receive the dividend. A common misconception is that investors need to hold the stock through the record date or pay date.

How to know ex-date? ›

The ex-dividend date for stocks is usually set one business day before the record date. If you purchase a stock on its ex-dividend date or after, you will not receive the next dividend payment. Instead, the seller gets the dividend. If you purchase before the ex-dividend date, you get the dividend.

Will I get dividend if I buy one day before my ex-date? ›

As noted above, the ex-date or ex-dividend date marks the cutoff point for a pending stock dividend. Some trading platforms, market data, and news services might add an XD modifier to the ticker symbol to show it is trading ex-dividend. If you buy a stock one day before the ex-dividend, you will get the dividend.

What happens to stock price on ex-dividend date? ›

The stock price drops by the amount of the dividend on the ex-dividend date. Remember, the ex-dividend date is the day before the record date. If investors want to receive a stock's dividend, they have to buy shares of stock before the ex-dividend date.

What is the difference between dividend date and ex-dividend? ›

Declaration date: On this day, the company will usually issue a press release announcing the dividend amount and important dates that shareholders should be aware of. Ex-dividend date: This is the day after which dividend payments will no longer be paid to investors who purchase a stock.

How long do I have to hold a stock to get the dividend? ›

Investors must have bought the stock at least two days before the official date of a dividend payment (the "date of record") in order to receive that payment. The company pays out the dividend to shareholders.

Should I sell before or after ex-dividend? ›

Regardless, if you'd like to sell your shares and still get the dividend, hold onto them until the Ex-Dividend Date. Sell on or after the Ex-Dividend Date and you'll still receive the dividend.

What are the three important dates for dividends? ›

When it comes to investing for dividends, there are three key dates that everyone should memorize. The three dates are the date of declaration, date of record, and date of payment.

Will I get bonus shares if I buy on an ex-date? ›

Shares must be bought before the ex-date because, if an investor purchases the shares on the ex-date, they will not be credited with the ownership of given shares by the set record date and, therefore, will not be eligible for the bonus shares.

Can I buy after hours before my ex-dividend date? ›

This can be an important for dividend investors when buying a stock on the ex-dividend date. If you buy on or after the ex-dividend-date in regular trading, after hours trading or premarket trading, you do not qualify for the dividend. However if you buy the day before, even in after hours trading, you still qualify.

What if ex-date and record date are the same? ›

Ex-Date: The date on which a stock starts trading without the benefit of corporate action, i.e., ex-benefit, is known as the ex-date. The ex-date and the record date for all the corporate actions are on the same day since all the instruments are moved to the T+1 settlement cycle.

When to buy stock to get dividends? ›

The ex-dividend date marks a pivotal moment for investors, signalling the deadline for purchasing shares to qualify for dividend payments. Typically set two trading days before the record date, this date ensures that shareholders acquire shares before the record date to be eligible for dividends.

How to get a record date for a dividend? ›

The record date will usually be the trading day following the ex-dividend date, which is the trading date the dividend is no longer owed to new buyers of the stock. To be eligible for the upcoming dividend, you must buy the stock at least two business days before the record date.

How to calculate the ex-dividend price? ›

In this case, the value of the upcoming dividend should be deducted from the cum div price to give the ex div price. For example, if a dividend of 20 cents is due to be paid on a share which has a cum div value of $3.45, the ex div share price to be entered into the DVM formula is $3.45 – $0.20 = $3.25.

What is the ex-dividend date of a stock? ›

The ex-dividend date determines which shareholders will receive the announced dividend of the company on that specific date. It is the day when the stock of the company goes ex-dividend, meaning the stock from that day does not carry the value associated with its next dividend payment.

Is there a journal entry for ex-dividend date? ›

Ex-dividend date – This is the last date that you can purchase the stock and receive the dividend payment was declared. Anyone who buys the stock after the ex-dividend date is not entitled to the dividend payment.

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