Ex-Dividend Date Insight: Westamerica Bancorp

Westamerica Bancorp WABC declared a dividend payable on May 14, 2021 to its shareholders as of April 22, 2021. It was also announced that shareholders of Westamerica Bancorp's stock as of May 3, 2021 are entitled to the dividend. The stock is expected to become ex-dividend 1 business day(s) before the record date. Westamerica Bancorp, whose current dividend payout is $0.41, has an ex-dividend date set at April 30, 2021. The payout equates to a dividend yield of 2.58% at current price levels.

The Significance Of An Ex-Dividend Date

An ex-dividend date is when a company's shares stop trading with its current dividend payout in preparation for the company to announce a new one. 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. Typically, companies will announce and implement new dividend yields on a quarterly basis.

Understanding Westamerica Bancorp's Dividend History

Over the past year, Westamerica Bancorp has experienced no change regarding its dividend payouts and a downward trend regarding its yields. Last year on May 1, 2020 the company's payout was $0.41, which has returned to its value today. Westamerica Bancorp's dividend yield last year was 2.66%, which has since decreased by 0.08%.
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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