Dividend Stocks: Looking to lock in dividend income this week? 🚀 You’re running out of time.

A total of 10 dividend-paying stocks will trade ex-dividend between July 28 and July 31, 2026. If you want to receive their upcoming dividend payments, you must buy the shares before the ex-dividend date.

⚠️ Important: Under the T+1 settlement rule, the last day to buy a dividend stock is one trading day before its ex-dividend date. Buy on or after the ex-date, and you won’t receive the upcoming dividend.

Whether you’re building a passive income portfolio or hunting for high-yield dividend stocks, here’s your complete dividend calendar for the week.

📌 Last Day to Buy: Monday, July 27, 2026

💼 Paychex (NASDAQ: PAYX)

• 📅 Ex-Dividend Date: July 28, 2026
• 💵 Dividend: $1.19/share
• 🗓️ Payment Date: August 28, 2026
• 💰 Annual Dividend: $4.76/share

Paychex remains one of the strongest dividend growth companies in the payroll services industry. Earlier this year, the company boosted its quarterly dividend by 10.2%, highlighting management’s confidence in future cash flows.

Why Investors Like PAYX ✅

• 📈 Strong earnings comfortably cover the dividend.
• 🚀 Management expects mid-to-high single-digit EPS growth in FY2027.
• 💼 Consistent dividend growth history.
• 📊 Trades around 23x trailing earnings.

Best for: Long-term dividend growth investors.

🔩 Fastenal (NASDAQ: FAST)

• 📅 Ex-Dividend Date: July 28
• 💵 Dividend: $0.26/share
• 🗓️ Payment Date: August 25
• 💰 Annual Dividend: $0.96/share

Fastenal is a favorite among industrial dividend investors.

While the company boasts an impressive 34.3% return on equity, investors should note that its payout ratio is relatively high compared to earnings.

Highlights

✅ Strong balance sheet

✅ Excellent profitability

⚠️ Premium valuation at approximately 38x earnings

📌 Last Day to Buy: Wednesday, July 29, 2026

🍺 Constellation Brands (NYSE: STZ)

• 📅 Ex-Dividend Date: July 30
• 💵 Dividend: $1.03/share
• 🗓️ Payment Date: August 13
• 📈 Dividend Yield: 3.04%

Constellation Brands offers one of the week’s more attractive combinations of value and income.

Although the stock has pulled back significantly from its 52-week high, dividend coverage remains healthy.

Why STZ Stands Out

✔️ Annual dividend of $4.09

✔️ TTM EPS of $10.20

✔️ Attractive valuation around 13x earnings

📌 Last Day to Buy: Thursday, July 30, 2026

Seven stocks go ex-dividend on Friday, July 31, making Thursday your final chance to qualify for their payouts.

🏠 AGNC Investment (NASDAQ: AGNC)

• 📅 Ex-Date: July 31
• 💵 Dividend: $0.12/month
• 📅 Payment: August 11
• 🔥 Dividend Yield: 13.2%

Income investors love AGNC for one reason—its double-digit dividend yield.

However, AGNC is a mortgage REIT, meaning investors should focus on:

• Net interest spread
• Book value
• Earnings available for distribution

rather than traditional GAAP earnings.

⚠️ High yield comes with higher interest-rate and book-value risk.

⚡ Alliant Energy (NASDAQ: LNT)

• 📅 Ex-Date: July 31
• 💵 Dividend: $0.535/share
• 🗓️ Payment: August 17
• 📈 Yield: 2.78%

Regulated utilities remain among the most dependable dividend sectors.

Why LNT Looks Stable

✅ Predictable cash flow

✅ Healthy dividend coverage

✅ Reliable regulated business model

⛽ Casey’s General Stores (NASDAQ: CASY)

• 📅 Ex-Date: July 31
• 💵 Dividend: $0.65/share
• 📅 Payment: August 14

Casey’s isn’t a high-yield stock—but it’s a dividend growth machine.

The company recently increased its dividend again, continuing decades of annual raises.

Investor Snapshot

📈 TTM EPS: $18.97

💵 Annual Dividend: $2.28

Yield: 0.26%

Ideal for investors focused on long-term dividend growth rather than current income.

🛢️ Plains All American Pipeline (NASDAQ: PAA)

• 📅 Ex-Date: July 31
• 💵 Distribution: $0.4175/unit
• 📅 Payment: August 14
• 📈 Yield: 6.68%

PAA continues to generate solid distributable cash flow.

Keep in mind:

⚠️ PAA issues a K-1 tax form, which may not suit every investor.

🏗️ Plains GP Holdings (NASDAQ: PAGP)

• 📅 Ex-Date: July 31
• 💵 Distribution: $0.4175/share
• 📈 Annual Dividend: $1.67

Unlike PAA, PAGP issues a standard 1099 tax form, making tax reporting much simpler for many investors.

💻 Texas Instruments (NASDAQ: TXN)

• 📅 Ex-Date: July 31
• 💵 Dividend: $1.42/share
• 📅 Payment: August 11
• 📈 Yield: 1.96%

Texas Instruments remains one of the most respected dividend-paying semiconductor companies.

Although the company is investing heavily in manufacturing capacity, free cash flow remains the key metric to monitor.

Investors Should Watch

✔️ Ongoing capital spending

✔️ Free cash flow trends

✔️ Improving earnings outlook

🏦 Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS)

• 📅 Ex-Date: July 31
• 💵 Dividend: $1.15/share
• 📅 Payment: August 14
• 📈 Yield: 1.97%

Morgan Stanley recently announced a 15% dividend increase, reinforcing confidence in its capital strength.

Why MS Remains Attractive

✅ Strong earnings coverage

✅ Healthy Return on Tangible Common Equity (ROTCE)

✅ Large share repurchase authorization

📊 Quick Dividend Calendar (July 27–31)

💡 Key Takeaways for Dividend Investors

📌 Buying before the ex-dividend date qualifies you for the upcoming dividend payment.

📌 High dividend yields aren’t always safer—always evaluate earnings, free cash flow, payout ratios, and balance-sheet strength.

📌 Utilities and financials generally offer stable payouts, while mortgage REITs and energy partnerships may provide higher yields but also carry greater risk.

📌 Focus on long-term dividend sustainability, not just the next payment.

🏆 Final Thoughts

This week’s dividend calendar offers opportunities for both income seekers and dividend growth investors.

• 💰 Highest Yield: AGNC Investment (13.2%)
• 📈 Best Dividend Growth: Paychex and Casey’s General Stores
• ⚖️ Best Value + Income: Constellation Brands
• 🏦 Strong Financial Dividend: Morgan Stanley
• 💻 Blue-Chip Tech Dividend: Texas Instruments

Remember, capturing a dividend alone doesn’t guarantee a profit. On the ex-dividend date, a stock’s price typically adjusts by approximately the dividend amount. The best dividend investments are companies that can consistently grow earnings, generate strong cash flow, and increase payouts over time.

⭐ Bookmark this weekly dividend calendar to stay ahead of upcoming ex-dividend dates and never miss another dividend opportunity.