Stock trades in the U.S. take two days to "settle," or become official. To further complicate matters, dividend-paying stocks also have what are called ex-dividend dates--usually two business days before the record date. Sometimes a company pays a dividend in the form of stock rather than cash. However, on the ex-dividend date, the stock's value will inevitably fall. Ex-Dividend Date. To summarize the entire discussion, if you buy a stock before the ex-dividend date, then you will receive the next upcoming dividend payment. Dividend history information is presently unavailable for this company.

In the above example, the ex-dividend date for a stock that’s paying a dividend equal to 25% or more of its value, is October 4, 2017. The ex-dividend date, or ex-date, will be one business day earlier, on Monday, March 18. This day is usually two trading days before the record date because stocks settle three days after the trade date (referred to as a "T + 3" settlement period for "Trade date plus three"). To be entitled to a dividend a shareholder must have purchased the shares before the ex dividend date. Hence it is called the “ex-dividend date”. This could indicate that the company has never provided a dividend or that a dividend is pending. This is required because when you buy or sell a stock, the trade takes one business day to fully settle – this is known as “T+1” settlement. As Alex and George said, the dividend is already "priced into the stock" and the price of the stock will fall by exactly the amount of the dividend after the ex-dividend date, if nothing else in the market changes. Those who will buy shares on 18 th August 2017 will NOT be eligible to receive cash or stock dividend on August 31 st, 2017. Due to the two-day settlement rule, a stock goes ex-dividend one business day before the record date. Typically, the ex-dividend date is one business day before the record date.

To officially own stock shares on a specific date, you must buy a stock at least two business days before the record date. The value of the stock will fall by an amount roughly corresponding to the total amount paid in dividends. One factor complicating the discussion of the dividend date is settlement.

The day count is important so that the investor clearly owns the stock on the ex-dividend date. How to Buy Stock Before Ex-Dividend Date. The ex-dividend date is a firm date and once the date arrives, any new investors that buy the stock will not receive the upcoming dividend. The ex-dividend date: The ex-dividend date is the first day on which new buyers of a stock will not receive the dividend. Ex dividend date. When you purchase a stock, it takes three business days for ownership to be transferred. If you purchase shares on or after that date, the previous owner of the shares (and not you) is entitled to the dividend. If you purchase and hold a security before its ex-dividend date, you will receive the next

Buying stock before the ex-dividend date is easy as long as basic rules are followed. The ex dividend date occurs one business day before the company's Record Date.

The stock dividend may be additional shares in the company or in a subsidiary being spun off. That means that the stock must be purchased no later than the day of record. The ex-dividend date is an important date to keep in mind when purchasing a stock, but there are some who like to buy a stock before the ex-dividend date, and sell the stock after to “scoop the dividend.” Doing this is possible but it’s a controversial topic and you need so much capital to make it worth it that many people choose not to.