Record Date
Plain-English definition
The date used to identify shareholders on the company's records for a declared dividend.
Why it matters
The record date is not necessarily the last date a market buyer can qualify.
Example
For an ordinary cash dividend whose ex-date and record date both fall on Wednesday, buying on Wednesday normally misses that dividend.
How income investors use it
Read it alongside the announced ex-date rather than treating it as a purchase deadline.
This material is general education, not individualized investment, tax, or legal advice.