“On March 10, 2012, ABC company declares that dividends is payable on May 25, 2012 to shareholders on the register on April 20, 2012. The ex-dividend date is April 18, 2012.”
Above is a news header and it contains all key dates of dividend:
- **March 10, 2012 (declaration date) : **This date is when company declares a dividend payment in the future.
- **May 25, 2012 (payable date): **This date is when dividend payments are actually made to shareholders.
- **April 20, 2012 (record date): **This date is when company decides who receives the dividend payment. All shareholders on record will receive payment on incoming payable date.
- **April 18, 2012 (ex-dividend date): **Investors bought before this date will be recorded and whose name will appear on record on record date.