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What the ex-date is, what the record date is, and the important dates for a dividend — a complete guide.
Published by The Retail Trader · AUG 04, 2026 · Features
What the ex-date is, what the record date is, and the important dates for a dividend — a complete guide.
Keep these four points in mind:
• Declaration Date — The company announces the dividend
• Ex-Date — The stock price adjusts (dividend subtracted)
• Record Date — The day you must be a shareholder
• Payment Date — You receive the dividend
Ex-date = The date AFTER which, if you buy the stock, you will NOT get the dividend. If you buy BEFORE the ex-date, you will get it.
Example:
• Ex-date: August 20
• Record date: August 21
• If you bought on August 19 → You get the dividend
• If you bought on August 20 → You do NOT get the dividend
Record date = The company checks who the shareholders are on that day. If the shares are in your demat on that day, you will get the dividend.
Keep these four points in mind:
• What — Ex-Date: Price adjustment date, Record Date: Shareholder verification date
• Usually — Ex-Date: 1-2 days before record date, Record Date: After ex-date
• Stock price — Ex-Date: Falls by the dividend amount, Record Date: No change
• Must own shares — Ex-Date: Before ex-date, Record Date: On record date
Keep these three points in mind:
• Buy the stock BEFORE the ex-date
• You must have the shares in your demat on the record date
• The dividend will arrive in your bank account on the payment date
Keep these seven points in mind:
• Stock price: ₹500
• Dividend: ₹10/share
• Ex-date: Stock opens at ₹490 (₹500 - ₹10)
• Your total value stays the SAME:
• Before: 100 shares × ₹500 = ₹50,000
• After: 100 shares × ₹490 + ₹1,000 dividend = ₹50,000
Keep these points in mind:
• 📌 DIVIDEND DATES
• DATES:
• 📊 Declaration — Announcement date
• 📊 Ex-Date — Price adjusts, last date to buy for dividend
• 📊 Record Date — Shareholder verification
• 📊 Payment Date — Dividend credited
• EX-DATE:
• 📊 Buy the stock BEFORE the ex-date
• 📊 On the ex-date the stock price falls (by the dividend amount)
• 📊 Total value stays the SAME
• RECORD DATE:
• 📊 Shares must be in your demat
• 📊 Usually 1-2 days after ex-date
• HOW TO GET DIVIDEND:
• 1️⃣ Buy the stock before the ex-date
• 2️⃣ Hold the shares in your demat on the record date
• 3️⃣ You receive the dividend on the payment date
Keep these points in mind:
• Dividend Guide | Dividend Yield Investing | What Is EPS?
The Retail Trader — educational market analysis. Not investment advice.
This article is educational only — no buy or sell recommendation, no claim of guaranteed returns, and no advisory. Rules, rates and mechanics change from time to time at the exchange, SEBI and RBI, so verify every number yourself with your broker or an official source.