Microsoft, Johnson & Johnson, Shell, AstraZeneca, Unilever and Rio Tinto are among the major dividend stocks reaching important dates in August 2026. Here are the confirmed ex-dividend, record and payment dates investors should monitor.
August is an important month for income investors. Several major European companies declare interim distributions following their first-half results, while many U.S. corporations reach the ex-dividend dates for quarterly payments scheduled in September.
The calendar below separates ex-dividend dates from payment dates. This distinction matters: an investor purchasing a stock on or after its ex-dividend date will generally not receive the upcoming distribution.
All information is based on company announcements available on July 30, 2026. Dates and amounts can still be amended, particularly where a company has published only an indicative timetable.
Key August 2026 dividend dates
| Date | Company | Market | Event | Dividend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 3 | AT&T | United States | Payment date | $0.2775 |
| August 3 | Verizon | United States | Payment date | $0.7075 |
| August 6 | Unilever ordinary shares | Europe | Ex-dividend | €0.4664 / £0.3982 |
| August 6 | AstraZeneca LSE shares | Europe | Ex-dividend | $1.06 equivalent |
| August 7 | Unilever ADR | United States | Ex-dividend | $0.5305 |
| August 7 | AstraZeneca ADR | United States | Ex-dividend | $1.06 |
| August 13 | Shell ordinary shares | Europe | Ex-dividend | $0.3906 |
| August 13 | BP ordinary shares | Europe | Indicative ex-dividend | To be announced |
| August 14 | Shell ADS | United States | Ex-dividend | $0.7812 per ADS |
| August 14 | Rio Tinto | Europe/Australia | Ex-dividend | $2.11 |
| August 14 | Starbucks | United States | Record date | $0.62 |
| August 14 | Realty Income | United States | Payment date | $0.2710 |
| August 17 | Procter & Gamble | United States | Payment date | $1.0885 |
| August 20 | Microsoft | United States | Ex-dividend and record date | $0.91 |
| August 25 | Johnson & Johnson | United States | Ex-dividend and record date | $1.34 |
| August 28 | Starbucks | United States | Payment date | $0.62 |
Amounts shown for European companies may be converted into local currencies before payment. ADR and ADS ratios can also result in a different distribution per U.S.-traded security.
August 3: AT&T and Verizon payments
Two of America’s largest telecommunications companies begin the month with quarterly dividend payments.
AT&T
AT&T will pay $0.2775 per common share on August 3. Eligibility was determined using the July 10 record date, meaning purchasing the stock in August will not qualify an investor for this particular payment.
AT&T’s quarterly dividend has remained at $0.2775 per share since the distribution was reset following the WarnerMedia separation.
Sources: AT&T dividend announcement, AT&T dividend history.
Verizon
Verizon will pay $0.7075 per share on August 3 to shareholders of record on July 10.
The amount is unchanged from the previous quarterly distribution. Verizon remains a major income stock, although investors should evaluate the dividend alongside its debt, capital expenditure requirements and competitive position in the U.S. wireless market.
Source: Verizon dividend history.
August 6–7: Unilever goes ex-dividend
Unilever declared a second-quarter 2026 dividend of €0.4664 per ordinary share. The equivalent amounts are £0.3982 for London-listed ordinary shares and $0.5305 for each U.S. ADR.
The timetable differs slightly by security:
| Security | Ex-dividend date | Record date | Payment date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unilever ordinary shares | August 6 | August 7 | September 18 |
| Unilever ADR | August 7 | August 7 | September 18 |
Unilever increased its second-quarter dividend by approximately 3% from the corresponding 2025 payment. The company distributes dividends quarterly, which can be attractive to investors seeking more regular income.
The group also completed a €1.5 billion share-buyback programme during the first half of 2026.
Sources: Unilever dividend calendar, Unilever dividend history.
August 6–7: AstraZeneca interim dividend
AstraZeneca increased its first interim dividend by three cents to $1.06 per share. The announced equivalents are £0.795 and SEK10.32.
The exact ex-dividend date depends on the listing:
- London Stock Exchange: August 6
- Nasdaq Stockholm: August 6
- New York Stock Exchange ADR: August 7
- Record date: August 7
- Payment date: September 8
AstraZeneca intends to increase its total dividend for fiscal 2026 to $3.30 per share, compared with $3.20 for the previous financial year.
The company’s dividend yield is lower than those offered by many European banks, energy companies and telecom groups. The investment case instead depends primarily on pharmaceutical growth, new drug launches and successful clinical development.
Sources: AstraZeneca dividend policy and timetable, AstraZeneca H1 2026 results.
August 13–14: Shell dividend dates
Shell announced a second-quarter 2026 interim dividend of $0.3906 per ordinary share.
Because each U.S. ADS represents two ordinary shares, ADS holders are entitled to $0.7812 per ADS before any applicable withholding, custody or depositary adjustments.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Ex-dividend—ordinary shares | August 13 |
| Ex-dividend—ADS | August 14 |
| Record date | August 14 |
| Currency-election deadline | August 28 |
| Sterling and euro amounts announced | September 7 |
| Payment date | September 21 |
Eligible holders may receive their payment in U.S. dollars, pounds or euros, depending on their location, custody arrangements and any valid currency election.
Shell aims to grow its dividend per share by approximately 4% annually, subject to board approval and operating conditions. The company targets total shareholder distributions—including dividends and buybacks—equal to 40% to 50% of cash flow from operations.
Sources: Shell dividend announcement, Shell 2026 dividend timetable.
August 13: BP’s indicative ex-dividend date
BP’s published 2026 financial calendar identifies August 13 as the expected ex-dividend date for ordinary shares following its second-quarter results.
However, BP will not release its second-quarter results and formal dividend announcement until August 4. Investors should therefore confirm the amount and final timetable after that announcement.
The equivalent ex-dividend date for U.S. ADS holders may differ because of the applicable settlement cycle and depositary arrangements.
Source: BP 2026 financial calendar.
BP remains a potentially attractive income stock, but its dividend outlook is closely linked to oil and gas prices, operating cash flow, debt reduction and the scale of future share buybacks.
August 14: Rio Tinto goes ex-dividend
Rio Tinto declared a 2026 interim dividend of $2.11 per share, up from $1.48 for the previous interim period.
The distribution totals approximately $3.4 billion and represents 50% of first-half underlying earnings. The increase follows a 43% rise in underlying earnings to $6.85 billion, supported by higher commodity prices and improved contributions from copper, aluminium and lithium.
The confirmed timetable includes:
- Ex-dividend date: August 14
- Payment date: September 24
The precise amount received in pounds or Australian dollars will depend on the applicable exchange-rate conversion.
Sources: Rio Tinto H1 2026 results, Rio Tinto financial calendar.
Rio Tinto’s dividend is less predictable than the payments made by mature consumer-staples companies. The board determines distributions according to earnings, commodity prices, investment requirements and the need to maintain a strong balance sheet.
August 14 and 28: Starbucks
Starbucks declared a quarterly dividend of $0.62 per share.
- Record date: August 14
- Payment date: August 28
The ex-dividend date will generally coincide with the record date under the current U.S. settlement cycle, but investors should confirm the date displayed by their broker.
The dividend is one cent higher than the $0.61 quarterly payment made during the corresponding 2025 period.
Sources: Starbucks dividend announcement, Starbucks dividend history.
Investors should monitor whether the company’s operating cash flow and store-level profitability can support continued dividend growth alongside investment in its turnaround strategy.
August 14: Realty Income monthly payment
Realty Income will distribute its 673rd consecutive monthly dividend on August 14.
The payment amounts to $0.2710 per share, equivalent to an annualised dividend of $3.252 per share.
Source: Realty Income August 2026 dividend announcement.
Monthly distributions make Realty Income popular among income investors. However, the stock remains sensitive to bond yields, property valuations, tenant credit quality and financing costs.
Investors purchasing the shares in August should remember that eligibility for the August payment was determined before the payment date.
August 17: Procter & Gamble payment
Procter & Gamble will pay $1.0885 per share on or after August 17.
The record date was July 24, so this is another August payment for which the shareholder-eligibility date occurred in July.
P&G has paid a dividend for 136 consecutive years and has increased it for 70 consecutive years, according to the company.
Source: Procter & Gamble July 2026 dividend announcement.
The company’s long distribution record does not eliminate valuation risk. Investors must still compare dividend growth with earnings growth, inflation and the stock’s market price.
August 20: Microsoft goes ex-dividend
Microsoft declared a quarterly dividend of $0.91 per share.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Ex-dividend date | August 20 |
| Record date | August 20 |
| Payment date | September 10 |
Source: Microsoft dividend announcement.
Microsoft’s yield is relatively modest because of its elevated share price. However, the company combines dividend payments with substantial share repurchases and growth in cloud computing, software and artificial intelligence.
For growth-and-income investors, dividend growth and free-cash-flow generation may be more relevant than the current yield alone.
August 25: Johnson & Johnson goes ex-dividend
Johnson & Johnson declared a third-quarter dividend of $1.34 per share.
- Ex-dividend date: August 25
- Record date: August 25
- Payment date: September 8
Source: Johnson & Johnson dividend announcement.
The payment follows the company’s dividend increase earlier in 2026. Johnson & Johnson remains one of the most established U.S. dividend-growth companies, although litigation, pharmaceutical competition and medical-technology execution remain material risks.
Other August announcements to monitor
Several companies are expected to announce or confirm distributions during August rather than simply reach an existing ex-dividend date.
HSBC—August 4
HSBC will publish its interim results on August 4. The results may include details of its second interim dividend and associated payment timetable.
The amount and dates should not be treated as confirmed until the announcement is released.
Source: HSBC 2026 results calendar.
BP—August 4
BP will also report second-quarter results on August 4 and formally declare its quarterly dividend. Investors should monitor the dividend amount, buyback programme and net-debt position.
Source: BP quarterly results calendar.
Apple—July 30 results
Apple was scheduled to report quarterly results after the U.S. market close on July 30. At the time this calendar was prepared, its next dividend had not yet been formally added to the company’s published dividend history.
The company paid $0.27 per share in May 2026, but investors should not assume the August amount or dates until Apple releases an official declaration.
Source: Apple dividend history.
Ex-dividend date versus payment date
These four terms should not be confused:
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Declaration date | The board formally approves the dividend |
| Ex-dividend date | Buyers on or after this date do not receive the upcoming dividend |
| Record date | The company identifies eligible registered shareholders |
| Payment date | Cash is distributed to eligible shareholders |
An investor does not need to continue holding the stock until the payment date after becoming entitled to the dividend. However, selling immediately after the ex-dividend date can still create market, tax and transaction-cost consequences.
Why dividend capture is not free money
Buying a stock immediately before its ex-dividend date does not guarantee a profit.
In theory, the share price adjusts downward by approximately the dividend amount when the stock begins trading ex-dividend. Actual price movements will also reflect market conditions, earnings expectations and investor sentiment.
Short-term dividend-capture strategies can be affected by:
- Bid-ask spreads
- Brokerage costs
- Taxation
- Foreign withholding tax
- Currency movements
- ADR fees
- Normal market volatility
Long-term investors should focus primarily on dividend sustainability rather than attempting to collect an isolated payment.
European versus U.S. dividend schedules
American companies frequently pay equal quarterly dividends. This creates relatively predictable payment patterns.
European distributions are often less regular:
- Many continental European companies pay annually or semi-annually.
- British companies commonly use interim and final dividends.
- Mining and energy dividends can vary with commodity prices.
- Currency conversions may be announced after the dollar amount.
- Ordinary shares and ADRs can have different ex-dividend dates.
European investors must also consider withholding taxes, while American investors holding European shares or ADRs may need to examine foreign-tax-credit eligibility.
Final outlook
August 2026 offers a varied dividend calendar.
Unilever and AstraZeneca begin the main ex-dividend period on August 6–7. Shell, BP and Rio Tinto follow in the middle of the month, giving investors exposure to energy, mining and commodities. Microsoft and Johnson & Johnson provide two major U.S. ex-dividend dates later in August.
For investors focused on cash arriving during the month, AT&T, Verizon, Realty Income, Procter & Gamble and Starbucks have confirmed August payment dates.
The strongest dividend opportunity is not necessarily the company offering the largest immediate distribution. Investors should assess payout coverage, cash flow, balance-sheet strength, taxation and the long-term capacity to increase payments.
This calendar is based on publicly available company announcements as of July 30, 2026. Dates may change. The article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment or tax advice.
