Major dividend data lands tomorrow, and retail investors may have a decision to make. The news is significant as it could influence share price performance, in the short-term.
The 8 Jan is the first ex-dividend date of 2026, a regular major dividend event that can send ripples through stock markets.
What ex-dividend means
When a stock goes ex-dividend, it means new investors no longer have the right to receive the stock’s next declared dividend payout.
Here’s how it works:
- The ex-dividend date is set by the exchange, in the UK, the LSE. If you buy the stock on or after this date, you will not receive the latest declared dividend.
- To be eligible for the dividend, you must own the stock before the ex-dividend date.
- On the ex-dividend date, the stock price typically drops by roughly the cash amount of the dividend because new buyers won’t get that payout as major dividend data impacts them tomorrow.
Sage going ex-dividend
For example, enterprise software FTSE 100 firm Sage (SGE) will go ex-dividend tomorrow. It means, only shareholders at the end of today will be entitled to its next dividend, Sage’s final for the financial year to 30 September 2025.
Back in November, in its full year results report, Sage declared a final dividend worth 14.4p per share. Based on Sage’s overnight close price (6 Jan) of £10.66, that payout represents roughly 1.35% of the stock price, so typically we can expect the stock to drop by roughly that amount, all else being equal.
Here’s the FTSE 350 list in full:
FTSE 100 – 8 Jan ex-divi date
| Stock | Price | Latest divi | Impact | Pay date |
| Ashtead | £54.30 | $0.375 | 0.51% | 6 Feb |
| Experian | £33.84 | $0.2125 | 0.47% | 6 Feb |
| Sage | £10.66 | 14.4p | 1.35% | 10 Feb |
Source: Company reports
FTSE 250 – 8 Jan ex-divi date
| Stock | Price | Latest divi | Impact | Pay date |
| Greencore | 246p | 2.6p | 1.06% | 5 Feb |
| Mitie | 168p | 1.4p | 0.84% | 20 Feb |
| Qinetiq | 479p | 3p | 0.63% | 6 Feb |
| TBC Bank | £39.30 | GEL 1.75 | 1.22% | 10 Feb |
| Workspace | 399p | 9.4p | 2.36% | 2 Feb |
| XPS Pensions | 339p | 4.1p | 1.21% | 6 Feb |
Source: Company reports
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Disclaimer: This content is for information only and is not investment advice. Always do your own research before investing. Click here to see full disclaimer.
