Record Date

The record date is a specific date set by a company's board of directors to determine which shareholders are entitled to receive a dividend or participate in a corporate action, such as voting at a meeting. On this date, the company’s records are reviewed to identify all registered shareholders. Only those who are listed as shareholders on the record date will receive the dividend or be eligible to vote. Typically, there are related dates like the ex-dividend date, which occurs just before the record date, giving investors time to buy or sell shares without affecting their eligibility.