Best Ex-Dividend Stocks to Buy Before June 2026

Published: May 25, 2026 — Must read before June ex-dates begin. Table updated with current data.

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Here's a mistake most new dividend investors make: they hear about a fat dividend payment and rush to buy the stock — only to discover they missed the ex-dividend date by three days.

No dividend. Just a stock purchase.

The ex-dividend date is the invisible deadline that separates people who collect the payout from people who just own the stock and wait for the next one. Miss it and you're waiting another quarter (or year, for annual payers).

This guide gives you the June 2026 ex-dividend calendar for 10 high-quality dividend stocks — screened for yield, consistency, and value — so you can plan your buys properly and stop leaving income on the table.

→ Model your dividend income with our free Dividend Calculator

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How Ex-Dividend Dates Actually Work

The timeline goes like this:

1. Declaration Date — the company announces the upcoming dividend
2. Ex-Dividend Date — the cutoff. Own the stock BEFORE this date to qualify
3. Record Date — usually one business day after the ex-date (T+1 settlement)
4. Payment Date — the money hits your brokerage account

The key rule: buy the stock at least one business day before the ex-dividend date.

With today's T+1 settlement (trades settle the next business day), you need to purchase by market close the day before the ex-date. If a stock goes ex-dividend on June 10, you must buy by June 9.

What Happens to the Stock Price on Ex-Date?

Here's the part most guides skip: the stock price typically drops by approximately the dividend amount on the ex-dividend date.

If KO pays a $0.485 quarterly dividend and goes ex-div on June 5, don't be surprised if it opens $0.48 lower that morning. This isn't a coincidence — it's the market mechanically adjusting the price to reflect that new buyers won't receive the pending payment.

This is why dividend-chasing — buying purely to grab a single payout then selling — is a break-even game at best. The real edge is owning great businesses consistently, collecting dividends as they compound.

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June 2026 Ex-Dividend Calendar: 10 Stocks to Watch

All 10 stocks below have been screened for:

• Dividend yield ≥ 2.5%
• 10+ consecutive years of dividend payments
• Ex-dividend date in June 2026
• Dividend payer with a sustainable payout ratio (<85%)

Data approximate as of mid-May 2026. Confirm ex-dates at your brokerage before trading. Ex-dates occasionally shift.

| # | Company | Ticker | Ex-Div Date | Quarterly Payout | Annual Yield | Payout Ratio | Years Paying | |---|---------|--------|-------------|-----------------|--------------|--------------|--------------| | 1 | Coca-Cola | KO | June 5, 2026 | $0.485/share | 3.1% | 73% | 64 years | | 2 | Johnson & Johnson | JNJ | June 6, 2026 | $1.24/share | 3.2% | 68% | 63 years | | 3 | Realty Income | O | June 10, 2026 | $0.263/share | 5.7% | 76% | 29 years | | 4 | Chevron | CVX | June 11, 2026 | $1.71/share | 4.5% | 62% | 37 years | | 5 | PepsiCo | PEP | June 12, 2026 | $1.355/share | 3.5% | 71% | 54 years | | 6 | Verizon Communications | VZ | June 13, 2026 | $0.665/share | 6.4% | 56% | 19 years | | 7 | Altria Group | MO | June 16, 2026 | $1.02/share | 7.8% | 79% | 54 years | | 8 | 3M Company | MMM | June 18, 2026 | $0.70/share | 2.7% | 61% | 67 years | | 9 | Eversource Energy | ES | June 19, 2026 | $0.715/share | 4.3% | 69% | 25 years | | 10 | Procter & Gamble | PG | June 24, 2026 | $1.006/share | 2.6% | 64% | 70 years |

Disclaimer: The above data is educational and based on estimates. Ex-dividend dates and payout amounts can change. Always verify at your brokerage or on the company's investor relations page before making investment decisions. This is not financial advice.

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Stock-by-Stock Breakdown

1. Coca-Cola (KO) — Ex-Date: June 5

KO is the quintessential defensive dividend stock. Sixty-four consecutive years of dividend payments. The brand is sold in nearly every country on earth. Buffett has owned it for decades and has zero plans to sell.

Why it makes the June list: KO's ex-date lands early in the month, giving you a clean entry point. The 3.1% yield isn't flashy, but the dividend is as safe as any in the market. This is a core hold, not a trade.

Graham Note: KO typically trades at a premium to Graham's formula — you're paying for quality and certainty here. Fair price, not a screaming bargain.

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2. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) — Ex-Date: June 6

JNJ has navigated talc litigation, spun off Kenvue, and is still raising its dividend. That's durability. The pharmaceutical and medical device pipeline is strong, and the 3.2% yield is well-covered.

Why it makes the June list: Healthcare is the defensive anchor most dividend portfolios need. JNJ's ex-date on June 6 gives you plenty of runway.

Graham Note: JNJ is trading near fair value by our estimates. The margin of safety isn't wide, but the dividend safety score is elite.

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3. Realty Income (O) — Ex-Date: June 10

Realty Income calls itself "The Monthly Dividend Company" — and it earns the title. O pays dividends monthly (not quarterly), has raised its dividend for 29 consecutive years, and its triple-net lease model generates reliable cash flow.

Why it makes the June list: REITs like O are rate-sensitive. If the Fed is in a cutting cycle, O gets a tailwind. The 5.7% yield with monthly payments is a powerful income machine.

Graham Note: REITs require a different valuation lens than standard Graham analysis — look at Funds From Operations (FFO) rather than EPS. O's FFO payout ratio is sustainable.

→ Open a brokerage account to buy O commission-free

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4. Chevron (CVX) — Ex-Date: June 11

CVX is the oil major built for income investors. 37 years of consecutive dividend increases. Free cash flow that funds both capex and generous shareholder returns. The 4.5% yield is well-supported by oil prices in the $70–80 range.

Why it makes the June list: Energy provides inflation protection most dividend portfolios lack. CVX's balance sheet is fortress-grade.

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5. PepsiCo (PEP) — Ex-Date: June 12

PEP runs Lay's, Gatorade, Quaker, Mountain Dew, and yes — Pepsi. The snack business subsidizes the beverage business and the combination is a cash flow machine. 54 consecutive years of dividend increases puts PEP firmly in Dividend King territory.

Why it makes the June list: PEP has pulled back from its recent highs, which means the yield is more attractive than it's been in years. At 3.5%, this is better value than usual for a Dividend King.

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6. Verizon (VZ) — Ex-Date: June 13

VZ offers the highest "safe" yield on this list at 6.4%. Telecom is boring. Boring is good. People pay their phone bills even in recessions, which makes VZ's cash flow remarkably stable.

Why it makes the June list: 6.4% yield with a June ex-date makes VZ one of the most efficient dividend captures on the calendar. The 56% payout ratio leaves meaningful room for continued growth.

Graham Note: VZ has traded below our Graham estimate for several months. This is one of the few stocks on this list with a genuine margin of safety right now.

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7. Altria (MO) — Ex-Date: June 16

MO is polarizing — cigarette volumes are declining, the transition to alternative products is bumpy, and it's not a stock you talk about at parties. But the 7.8% yield and 54-year dividend track record are real.

Why it makes the June list: If you can stomach the controversy, MO is one of the most reliable income machines in the dividend universe. The June ex-date comes with a $1.02 quarterly payout.

Warning: High yield + declining industry = dividend trap risk. Research the payout sustainability carefully.

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8. 3M (MMM) — Ex-Date: June 18

3M recently emerged from its legal settlements and is refocusing on core industrial and safety products. 67 years of consecutive dividend payments make it the second-longest streak on this list. The 2.7% yield is modest, but the dividend history is unmatched.

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9. Eversource Energy (ES) — Ex-Date: June 19

Utilities are boring. This is exactly what makes ES valuable. Eversource serves New England with electricity and natural gas — a regulated business with predictable revenue and a 4.3% yield. Rate cuts are a tailwind for utilities in 2026.

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10. Procter & Gamble (PG) — Ex-Date: June 24

Tide, Gillette, Pampers, Bounty. PG's brands are embedded in daily life across every income level. 70 years of consecutive dividend increases — the longest streak on this list. The 2.6% yield is the price of admission to the most durable consumer franchise on earth.

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The Ex-Dividend Tax Trap: What You Need to Know

Not all dividends are taxed the same. This distinction is worth real money.

Qualified dividends — taxed at 0%, 15%, or 20% depending on your income bracket. Much better.

Ordinary (non-qualified) dividends — taxed at your regular income tax rate, which can be 32%+ for higher earners.

To get the qualified rate, you must:

1. Own the stock for at least 61 days during the 121-day window surrounding the ex-dividend date
2. The stock must be a U.S. company (or a qualifying foreign company)

The trap: If you buy three days before the ex-date, collect the dividend, then sell right after — you're almost certainly getting taxed at the ordinary income rate. You're not just breaking even on the stock price drop; you're also paying more in taxes than you'd planned.

The play: Buy quality dividend stocks with the intention of holding them. Let the qualified dividend treatment work in your favor.

In tax-deferred accounts (Roth IRA, Traditional IRA, 401k): None of this matters. Dividends grow tax-free (Roth) or tax-deferred (Traditional). If you're collecting dividends in a taxable account, tax efficiency matters a lot more.

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How to Build a Year-Round Ex-Dividend Strategy

The real power isn't capturing one June dividend — it's building a portfolio where dividends hit your account every month of the year.

Here's how:

Step 1: Pick 9-12 quality dividend stocks with staggered ex-dates across the calendar year.

Step 2: Size positions based on your income goal. Use our Dividend Income Calculator to see exactly how much income each position generates annually.

Step 3: Reinvest dividends automatically (DRIP). Let compounding do the heavy lifting.

Step 4: Every June, every September, every December — update your calendar. New ex-dates, new opportunities to add to positions before the cutoff.

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The Right Brokerage for Dividend Investors

To capture dividends on schedule, you need a brokerage that settles trades quickly, offers DRIP (automatic dividend reinvestment), and doesn't charge commissions that eat into your returns.

Open a free brokerage account to start building your dividend calendar today. Most accounts fund in 1-3 business days.

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Get the Pro Screener: Find Every Ex-Dividend Stock in Any Month

This list is curated by hand. The Pro version does it automatically — every stock, every ex-date, every month, filtered by yield, payout ratio, Graham Number, and dividend safety.

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At $9/month, it's less than the cost of a single missed dividend trade.

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FAQ

What does ex-dividend mean?

The ex-dividend date is the cutoff — you must OWN the stock BEFORE this date to receive the upcoming dividend payment. Buy on or after the ex-date and you miss that payout.

Can I buy a stock the day before the ex-dividend date and collect the dividend?

Yes — technically. But the stock price typically drops by roughly the dividend amount on the ex-date. You're not getting free money; you're just converting share price into cash. The real edge is buying quality dividend stocks consistently, not chasing single payouts.

Are dividends taxed differently depending on when I buy?

Yes. To qualify for the lower "qualified dividend" tax rate (0%, 15%, or 20%), you must hold the stock for at least 61 days during the 121-day window surrounding the ex-dividend date. Hold less than that and the dividend gets taxed as ordinary income.

What's the difference between the ex-dividend date and the record date?

The record date is when the company confirms who its shareholders are. The ex-dividend date is usually one business day before the record date, because of T+1 stock settlement. You need to own the stock by the ex-date to be on the books by the record date.

Which June 2026 ex-dividend stock has the highest yield?

Of the stocks listed here, Altria (MO) and Verizon (VZ) carry the highest yields at 7.8% and 6.4% respectively. However, high yield alone doesn't make a good investment — always check dividend safety and the Graham Number before buying.

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This is educational content, not financial advice. Dividend payments, ex-dates, and yields are subject to change. Always verify current data and consult a qualified financial professional before making investment decisions. Past dividend history is not a guarantee of future payments.

— Harper Banks, ValueOfStock.com