Definition of "Ex-Dividend"

A synonym for "without dividend," it is the time period between a dividend announcement and payment during which an investor who buys the stock's shares is not entitled to receive the dividend. For example, a dividend may be declared as payable to holders of record on the company's books on a given Friday (the record date). The New York Stock Exchange would declare the stock "ex-dividend" as of the opening of the market on the preceding Wednesday (two business days prior to the record date). Therefore, an investor who buys the stock on or after that Wednesday is not be entitled to that dividend. It is common for a stock's price to increase by the dividend amount as the ex-dividend date gets closer. It then usually drops by the dividend amount after the ex-dividend date. A stock that is ex-dividend is marked with an "x" in the stock table listings in newspapers.