We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.

This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.

📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

dividends

i held shares in a company that had a financial year from 1st of june to the 30th may, i sold my shares on a dealing day in july, am i entitled to a full dividend for 2013-2014 i had held the shares before that financial year.
many thanks

Comments

  • Masomnia
    Masomnia Posts: 19,506 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    If you hold the shares on the ex-dividend date then you're entitled to the full dividend announced for that date; it's not pro-rata or anything.

    Suppose you buy some shares on the 13th of the month, the ex dividend date is the 14th for 4p per share, you sell them a few days later, you still get the 4p per share.
    “I could see that, if not actually disgruntled, he was far from being gruntled.” - P.G. Wodehouse
  • masonic
    masonic Posts: 27,630 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    You're entitled to any dividends where you've held the shares up to the appropriate ex-dividend date, so in practice you might still be entitled to dividends paid out up to a few weeks after you have sold.
  • k0y
    k0y Posts: 2 Newbie
    Masomnia wrote: »
    If you hold the shares on the ex-dividend date then you're entitled to the full dividend announced for that date; it's not pro-rata or anything.

    Suppose you buy some shares on the 13th of the month, the ex dividend date is the 14th for 4p per share, you sell them a few days later, you still get the 4p per share.

    So if I understand this right, I could just invest in a company that I know will have a dividend a day or two after and make some quick cash? Surely I must be misunderstanding something here.
  • Hi,

    normally the share price drops by the dividend amount.
  • Thrugelmir
    Thrugelmir Posts: 89,546 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    k0y wrote: »
    So if I understand this right, I could just invest in a company that I know will have a dividend a day or two after and make some quick cash? Surely I must be misunderstanding something here.

    When a share goes ex-dividend. The quoted price will drop by the dividend to be paid per share.
  • the company claim that because I was not on the share register on the 5th september they are not paying a dividend on the trading year 2013/2014. can they do this
  • jimjames
    jimjames Posts: 18,796 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    pfftm wrote: »
    the company claim that because I was not on the share register on the 5th september they are not paying a dividend on the trading year 2013/2014. can they do this

    Yes.

    If you are not on the share register on the correct date then you do not qualify for the dividend. Equally you probably got a higher price for your shares as a result so unlikely to have lost out massively.
    Remember the saying: if it looks too good to be true it almost certainly is.
  • Thrugelmir
    Thrugelmir Posts: 89,546 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    pfftm wrote: »
    the company claim that because I was not on the share register on the 5th september they are not paying a dividend on the trading year 2013/2014. can they do this

    If you sold the shares before the annual results announcement then yes.
  • IronWolf
    IronWolf Posts: 6,445 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    A company's year end for financial statements doesn't really affect when dividends are paid. They can announce a dividend in the report, but set the record date in the future. So if your no longer a shareholder on the date they specify then you wont receive the dividend.
    Faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 351.7K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.4K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 454K Spending & Discounts
  • 244.7K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 600.1K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 177.3K Life & Family
  • 258.4K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.2K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.