Benzinga | Mar 17, 2021 10:38AM EDT

Understanding Reaves Utility Income's Ex-Dividend Date

On December 16, 2020, Reaves Utility Income (AMEX:UTG) announced shareholders can expect to receive a dividend payable on March 31, 2021. The stock will then go ex-dividend 1 business day(s) before the record date. The ex-dividend date for Reaves Utility Income is set for March 18, 2021. The company's current dividend payout sits at $0.18, equating to a dividend yield of 6.51% at current price levels.

The Significance Of Ex-Dividend Dates

Ex-dividend dates signal when company shares cease to trade with their current dividend payouts. There is a small intermission period before companies announce new dividends. Usually, a company's ex-dividend date falls one business day before its record date. Investors should keep this in mind when purchasing stocks because buying them on or after ex-dividend dates does not qualify them to receive the declared payment. Newly declared dividends go to shareholders who have owned that stock before the ex-dividend date. Most ex-dividend dates operate on a quarterly basis.

Understanding Reaves Utility Income's Dividend Performance

Over the past year, Reaves Utility Income has experienced no change regarding its dividend payouts and a downward trend regarding itsyields. Last year on November 16, 2020 the company's payout was $0.18, which has returned to its value today. Reaves Utility Income's dividend yield last year was 6.71%, which has since decreased by 0.2%.

Companies use dividend yields in different strategic ways. Some companies may opt to not give yields altogether to reinvest in themselves. Other companies may opt to increase or decrease their yield amounts to control how their shares circulate throughout the stock market.

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