Topic: How To Invest

Q: Hi Pat, I have a question regarding dividends. In your opinion, is it better to buy a stock just before the ex-dividend date or just after? What about the dividend capture strategy? Thanks as always.

Article Excerpt

A: There are a number of dates related to the payment of dividends: The declaration date is the date on which a company’s board of directors actually sets the amount of the next dividend. Typically it is a number of weeks in advance of the actual payout date. The record date is the date on which a person has to actually own shares in the company in order to receive the declared dividend. The ex-dividend date is typically the last business day before the record date. The ex-dividend date is in place to allow pending stock trades to settle. In short, the security trades without its dividend any day after the ex-dividend date. If you buy a dividend-paying stock one day before the ex-dividend you will still get the dividend; if you buy on the ex-dividend date or after, you won’t get the dividend. The reverse is true if you want to sell a stock and still receive a dividend that has been…