How to receive a Stock’s Dividend

Dividend paying stocks pay a dividend to the stock’s owner of record as of a specific date (usually termed, ‘Record Date’).

However, to be owner of record on that specific date (ie: ‘Record Date’) the stock should be purchased three market days prior to that specific date.

The stock must be owned (at closing) three market days prior to the owner of record date.

But guess what, the stock can be sold (closed) the next day and you would still qualify for the dividend.

ps The settlement date on your monthly statement should be your Record Date