Dividends are paid to holders appearing on the company’s books as of:

Dividends are paid to shareholders who are officially recorded on the company’s books as of the record date. This date is crucial because it establishes who is eligible to receive the dividends declared by the company. If a shareholder is on the company's records on this date, they will receive the dividend payment, which typically occurs on or after the payable date.

The record date serves as a cut-off for shareholders, ensuring that only those who have ownership in the company as of that specific date are entitled to dividends. It reflects the company's efforts to manage ownership in relation to dividend distributions.

Other dates mentioned, such as the ex-date, is typically one business day before the record date and determines when a stock begins trading without the value of its next dividend payment. The payable date is when the dividends are actually paid out to shareholders, and the declaration date is when the company announces the dividend, including the amount and the dates involved. Hence, the record date remains the definitive moment for determining dividend eligibility.