Suppose Company XYZ pays a $0.53 per share dividend on June 2, 2024. The payment goes to shareholders who had purchased stock before the ex-date of May 5, 2024.

If the record date is Thursday, Aug. 8, the ex-dividend date would be Wednesday, Aug. 7, meaning anyone who bought the stock on Aug. 7 or later would not receive a dividend.

The ex-dividend date is the deadline for investors to receive the next dividend payment. ... meaning that a company may choose to suspend or reduce its dividend payments at any time.