Why not buy a stock before dividend and then sell?
If you're being serious – the dividend's simply subtracted from the price on the ex-div date, so there's no possible way to benefit from timing your buying or selling .. You're just as good selling the fund the day before the ex-div date – makes absolutely no difference. All a dividend is is self-liquidation ..
For most people, it is not rational to time delay their share sale to capture a dividend. There are some minor tax consideration, but these will not be material for most people with relatively small shareholdings. Bottom line – if you want to sell your shares, sell them!
“Dividend capture strategy” returns are the trading technique of buying a stock just before the dividend is paid, holding it just long enough to collect the dividend, then selling it. If you can sell it for as much as you paid, you have “captured” the dividend at no cost, other than the transaction costs.
If you buy stocks one day or more before their ex-dividend date, you will still get the dividend. That's when a stock is said to trade cum-dividend, or with dividend. If you buy on the ex-dividend date or later, you won't get the dividend. The ex-dividend date is in place to allow pending stock trades to settle.
Dividend capture specifically calls for buying a stock just prior to the ex-dividend date in order to receive the dividend, then selling it immediately after the dividend is paid. The purpose of the two trades is simply to receive the dividend, as opposed to investing for the longer term.
The ex-dividend date is set the first business day after the stock dividend is paid (and is also after the record date). If you sell your stock before the ex-dividend date, you also are selling away your right to the stock dividend.
While the dividend history of a given stock plays a general role in its popularity, the declaration and payment of dividends also have a specific and predictable effect on market prices. After the ex-dividend date, the share price of a stock usually drops by the amount of the dividend.
The strategy is used by investors to capitalize on dividend payments made by a stock. The goal of this strategy is to buy shares of a company just before it pays its dividend and then sell those shares shortly after receiving the dividend.
Example of Dividend Stripping
He strategically purchases 50 shares at INR 200 each, investing a total of INR 10,000. Company XYZ declares dividends of INR 50 per share, providing Mr. A with INR 2,500 (50 * 50). After the dividend declaration, the share price drops to INR 150.
It's a three-step process that involves buying a stock before its ex-dividend date, capturing the dividend, and then selling the stock once the price has recovered. This allows you to “harvest” the dividend as well as some capital gains. The dividend capture strategy requires no leverage.
What is the downside to dividend stocks?
Dividend-paying stocks have the potential for income through dividends and capital appreciation, but they come with higher volatility and market risk. The choice between the two depends on your risk tolerance, investment goals, and time horizon.
The ex-dividend date marks a pivotal moment for investors, signalling the deadline for purchasing shares to qualify for dividend payments. Typically set two trading days before the record date, this date ensures that shareholders acquire shares before the record date to be eligible for dividends.
As part of a diversified portfolio, dividend stocks have their place. They offer relative stability, may pay increasing amounts over time and may provide steady income. But relying too heavily on dividend stocks as a primary investment approach could put you at risk and reduce your long-term investment gains.
Another important note to consider: as long as you purchase a stock prior to the ex-dividend date, you can then sell the stock any time on or after the ex-dividend date and still receive the dividend. A common misconception is that investors need to hold the stock through the record date or pay date.
Dividend capture can be an effective short-term trading strategy in certain markets, but it's not a plan to gain long-term wealth. Dividend harvesting can provide steady and reliable income without worrying too much about volatile market gyrations or confusing technical analysis.
Why Does the Stock Price Fall on the Ex-Dividend Date? The price of a stock tends to fall by the amount of the dividend on its ex-dividend date, reflecting that its assets will soon be dropping by the amount of the dividend.
Key Takeaways
Dividend selling is an unethical sales tactic used by some brokers. Dividend selling involves encouraging a client to invest in a dividend-paying company under false pretenses, usually to generate commission revenue for the broker.
When it comes to investing for dividends, there are three key dates that everyone should memorize. The three dates are the date of declaration, date of record, and date of payment.
| Stock | Dividend yield |
|---|---|
| Pfizer Inc. (PFE) | 6.6% |
| Coca-Cola Co. (KO) | 3.3% |
| Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) | 3.4% |
| Prologis Inc. (PLD) | 3.7% |
What Is a Good Dividend Yield? Yields from 2% to 6% are generally considered to be a good dividend yield, but there are plenty of factors to consider when deciding if a stock's yield makes it a good investment. Your own investment goals should also play a big role in deciding what a good dividend yield is for you.
How safe are dividend stocks?
Because of their lower volatility, dividend stocks often appeal to investors looking for lower-risk investments, especially those in or nearing retirement. But dividend stocks can still be risky if you don't know what to avoid.
In reality, dividends are not “free money.” Dividends are an inflexible, tax-inefficient way to receive investment income while reducing the diversification in a portfolio. Focus less on passive income (dividends) and more on passive wealth (capital gains + dividends).
Rule 3 of Dividend Rules prescribes the conditions to be complied with for declaring dividend out of reserves. A pertinent question here is – whether a company can declare dividend out of 100% of the amount that has been transferred to General Reserve.
In order to avoid a dividend trap, investors need to be skeptical and understand dividend yield more deeply. The ratio that is reflected in the dividend yield does illustrate how much profit one will get from investing in these stocks, but that should not be the only reason investors buy stocks.
To have a perfect portfolio to generate $1000/month in dividends, one should have at least 30 stocks in at least 10 different sectors. No stock should not be more than 3.33% of your portfolio. If each stock generates around $400 in dividend income per year, 30 of each will generate $12,000 a year or $1000/month.
