List of Canadian Preferred Shares Going Ex-Dividend This Week. You must hold the stock till this day to get the dividend. After this date the stock price may reflect the paid dividend by decreasing in value by the same amount. Take this day into account when selling or purchasing this issue.

 The ex-dividend date of a stock is the day on which the stock begins trading without the subsequent dividend value. When a trader purchases a stock on its ex-dividend date or after, the trader will not receive the next dividend payment. Because buyers aren’t entitled to the next dividend payment on the ex-date the stock should drop in price by the amount of the paid dividend. The ex-dividend date is  one business day before the record date.

Record date  is the date when a person must be on the company’s record as a shareholder.

The period between ex-dividend and payment dates differs between issuers. Some are close like AltaGas – about 2 weeks, others are longer like Royal Bank – about a month.

When considering a transaction on this issue, around the Ex-Dividend day, you should take into account the settlement process.  North American Equity orders settle on trade date plus 2 business days (T + 2).  If you are not a holder, you will need to purchase the stock 3 business days before the Ex-Dividend day.