Dividend payout question.?

Question

Ok If I purchased an ETF today (7/15/08) that pays a dividend. And the fund has listed

Ex-Date Record Date Pay Date Rate/ Share

7/15/2008 7/17/2008 7/31/2008 0.17581

will I receive the dividend? Or did I miss the cutoff?

Answer 1

As above, you will not get the dividend.

"Ex" means "without."  Remember that for next time.

The Pay date, 7/31/2008, is generally the date the dividend will be delivered to your broker.  Some brokers take another day or two to get everything posted properly to individual accounts.

Answer 2

I believe you missed the date, the Record date is 7/17, people who own the stock 3 days before the record date will get the dividend, that is why the ex date is today, 7/15, you must be owner of record on 7/14 or earlier to get the dividend.