When should one buy stocks for long-term holding, before or after the dividend ex-date? ... Or can stocks be bought at any time?

$GENM (4715.MY)$ The meaning of dividend ex-date is the date when the company distributes dividends. If you hold the stock before that date, you will receive the dividend. If you buy and hold the company's stock after that date, you will not receive the dividend for that distribution.

However, the dividend ex-date means that the stock price will technically decrease on that day~ For example, if GENM's current stock price is 2.590~ and if the ex-date is tomorrow~ then the stock price will automatically adjust at nine o'clock the next morning when the market opens (GENM is distributing a dividend of 0.06 this time~ so the price will directly be 2.590-0.06=2.530 on the opening tomorrow.)

Relatively speaking, if you were originally planning to buy 10,000 shares of GENM... then tomorrow you can buy at a cheaper price or with the same capital you can buy more GENM shares.

High-quality blue chip companies have promising expansion prospects. Although facing dividend adjustments each quarter, the stock price will quickly rise again with market trading (for example, maybank has been distributing 0.60 dividends every year for 10 years. 10 years ago, their stock price was 6.00... logically, after continuously distributing dividends, the price should be zero, right? Actually, no... look at their current stock price, it's even higher at 9.00)~ This is the charm of stocks (earning both dividends and price differentials).

So don't be deceived by those outside *misleading propositions. Essentially, financial tools each have their own advantages and disadvantages, varying from person to person. Investing in real estate is called investment for those with a net worth of millions, while speculating in housing with a monthly income of 10K is considered building debt and ready to run at any time (unless it is for personal use, then it's another matter).

**By the way, if the stock dividend ex-date happens to coincide with a sudden storm of international events (big or small) or market sentiment is low~ its stock price will undergo another round of deep decline (in theory, being cheaper and allowing for the purchase of more).

**Entering the stock market to enrich oneself through stock financial management is for long-term returns, not short-sighted gains... it requires wisdom and experience, accumulating wealth step by step, methodically, and sensibly (or saving money properly).

Basic gentleman~ tips from a big V.