It is NOW my understanding that trades come Monday will carry the gift with them...that is, if you buy, you buy shares that 'carry' meeting the record date with them..i.e, you now own shares that will give you the gift shares come the day they pay them to "holder's on-record".
I would still recommend buying a few days before the pay date...I am not completely sure how they would identify YOU as owner if you buy on the payout day...probably does not show up as shares in your brokerage account until days later, but not completely sure thus the caution....
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