The ex-dividend date is defined as the day on which a trade will settle too late to give the buyer the dividend payment. Simply put, the ex-dividend date is typically two business days before the record date. Because the ex-dividend concept already includes the settlement delay, the settlement date can happen on or after the ex-dividend date. However, the trade date has to be before the ex-dividend date in order for the settlement date to be on or before the record date -- and therefore for the buyer to receive the dividend.
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