what happens if i sell a stock on the record date 
you are still entitled to the dividend if you sell a stock on its record date since the ex date has already passed it s the seller not the buyer who s on the books as the shareholder on the record date the bottom linethe record date also known as the date of record is when a company offering a dividend or distribution establishes its list of shareholders who will receive the payout the record date generally occurs a day after the ex dividend date the first trading day when new buyers no longer qualify for the dividend you must be on the books as a shareholder on the record date to collect a dividend for north america s t 2 settlement system this means buying at least two days before the record date 