7 Stocks To Go Ex-Dividend On July 18, 2012 – (PG, CMTL, CAT, GAIN, GOOD, FRD, FCCO)

The term ex-dividend literally means “without dividend.” If anyone buys shares when these stocks are quoted ex-dividend, he/she will not be entitled to receive the most recent declared dividend. This date is usually set between the record date and the payment date during which the seller trades without surrendering the right of its dividend to the buyer of a stock. The dividend remains with the seller when a stock is sold ex-dividend.

As an investor, ex-dividend date should be of more importance to you as compared to the dividend record date or dividend payment date. Keep in mind, a stock must be acquired one day before the ex-dividend date for the buyer to receive a dividend that has been declared but not yet paid. Buy a stock on or following the ex-dividend date and the seller, not you will claim the upcoming dividend.

The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG) maintains an annual dividend yield of 3.47% and a payout ratio of 62.46%. The stock over the last 52 weeks has been trading in a range of $57.56 – $67.95. Its market capitalization stands at $177.59 billion. PG together with its subsidiaries, provides consumer packaged goods and improves the lives of consumers worldwide.

Comtech Telecomm. Corp (NASDAQ:CMTL) designs, develops, produces, and markets products, systems, and services for communications solutions in the United States and internationally. Comtech Telecomm. Corp has an annual dividend yield of 3.88% and keeps a payout ratio at 62.20%. The stock in the prior 52 weeks has been trading between $24.04 – $35.65. The company is valued at $508.99 million.

Caterpillar Inc (NYSE:CAT) currently holds a yearly dividend yield of 2.56%. The stock has traded between $67.54 – $116.95 in the past 52 weeks and has a market capitalization of $52.95 million. CAT manufactures and sells construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives worldwide.

Gladstone Investment Corporation (NASDAQ:GAIN) has a dividend yield of 7.82%. The stock in the past 52 weeks has been floating in the range of $6.06 – $8.50. The company’s market capitalization stands at $169.35 million.

Gladstone Commercial Corporation (NASDAQ:GOOD) has an annual dividend yield of 1.50%. The stock has traded between $13.93 and $18.92 in the last 12-months. Its market capitalization is now at $188.50 million.

Friedman Industries (NYSE:FRD) Incorporated engages in steel processing, pipe manufacturing and processing, and steel and pipe distribution activities in the United States. Friedman Industries’s annual dividend yield is positive at 0.52%. The stock in the previous 52 weeks has been hovering in range of $7.80 – $12.95. The company is worth $69.15 million.

First Community Corporation (NASDAQ:FCCO) is currently valued at $26.61 million. The company keeps its annual dividend yield positive at 1.99%. The stock in the previous 52 weeks has traded in a range of $4.69 – $8.85. FCCO operates as a bank holding company for First Community Bank, N.A. that provides various commercial and retail banking products and services to small-to-medium sized businesses.

Disclosure: Opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors alone who have no stake in any stocks mentioned, and do not plan to acquire any stake within the next 72 hours.