when do i need to buy stock before a dividend
Buying to Collect a Dividend. The latest you can buy a stock and receive the dividend is before the stock market closes three business days before the dividend record date. On the next day the stock is said to have gone ex-dividend, and buyers on that day are not entitled to a dividend payment. If you bought shares before the ex-dividend day, you can sell them on the ex-dividend date and you will still be the shareholder of record on the record date and receive the dividend payment.