Dividend investing / Weekly focus
Four dividend dates, one payment: the J&J example.
A fresh declaration is a practical way to learn the timeline without mistaking it for a trading opportunity.
The announcement date, ex-dividend date, record date, and payment date play different roles.
This week's announcement
Johnson & Johnson announced on October 13 a quarterly dividend of 1.34 dollars per share for the fourth quarter of 2026. The announcement gives November 24 as both the record and ex-dividend date, and December 8 as the payment date. Those are the dates for this specific declaration, not a universal calendar for dividends.
Map the timeline
The declaration communicates the board's decision. The ex-dividend date determines when shares begin trading without entitlement to that announced distribution under the applicable market convention. The record date identifies shareholders in the company's records. The payment date is when the distribution is payable. A dividend announcement can therefore be current news even though the cash payment is weeks away.
An original arithmetic example
For an illustrative holding of 20 eligible shares, 20 × 1.34 equals 26.80 dollars before any applicable withholding, fees, or currency conversion. This is multiplication of an announced amount, not a recommendation to acquire shares. Eligibility depends on the actual transaction and market rules. The cash amount alone does not describe the investment's total return.
Why date knowledge is not free profit
An announced distribution transfers cash from the company to shareholders. Share prices may adjust around the ex-dividend date, and other price movements and costs can dominate the result. Understanding the calendar helps interpret a statement or announcement; it does not prove that buying just before the date and selling afterward is profitable. Always separate the factual declaration from any investment conclusion.
A global perspective
The example uses a U.S. common stock and its stated dates. Settlement conventions, tax treatment, and special-distribution rules can differ in other markets.
Sources & further reading
Johnson & Johnson — Fourth-quarter dividend declaration, October 13, 2026 ↗Sources checked Oct 15, 2026. Examples are original illustrations. No affiliation with cited organizations.
Make the idea stick.
Mark complete when you are ready. Reaching the end alone does not mark a lesson complete.
What assumption in this guide would change the result in a different situation? Revisit the example and explain that change in your own words.
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