Ex-dividend date
The ex-dividend date is the cutoff for a dividend: you must own the shares before it to receive the upcoming payment.
When a company declares a dividend, it sets several dates. The ex-dividend date is the key one for buyers: to receive the next dividend, you must own the stock before the ex-dividend date. Buy on or after it and the seller — not you — collects that payment. The record date and payment date follow.
On the ex-dividend date a stock’s price typically drops by roughly the dividend amount, because new buyers no longer get that payout. This is normal mechanics, not a loss of value. Trying to buy just before the ex-date and sell just after (a "dividend capture") rarely works after this price adjustment and taxes.
stocks-llm is a research tool for discovering and understanding companies, not a dividend-calendar or trade-timing service; it does not track ex-dividend dates. This definition is educational only.
See more terms in the stocks-llm glossary.
Informational only — NOT financial advice. This is an educational definition, not a recommendation to buy or sell anything. Metrics on stocks-llm are delayed data and may be missing or stale. Always verify information independently and consult a qualified financial professional before making any investment decision.