re: What is the purpose of the record date?
I found the pay date, March 6.
My date of 3/2 came from this thread.
Now, If you buy before the end of trading on 2/27/98,
You will be on record for owning the Stock.
You will not posess the stock untill 3/3/98. Three day settlement.
The split will pay on 3/3/98. Three days latter, 3/6/98 the price of the stock should be 1/2.
Non of this information is really important for us, the share holders.
It is important for the Market makers.
on thursday, they will be trading shares with Due Bills for the rest of the shares that are not reflected in the price.
The truth be known, Ain't nothing changin but the date and the weather on a stock split.
I think a much better question is, Why do investors Drive stocks up on splits. ? In Dell's case, 2 shares post split are the same as one share pre split. The company will have no benifit from the split.
Well, The only benifit I can think of is that if the stock goes back to say $15, Post split, Pre split if it went to $15, it is really higher. If you don't understand what I mean here, Tough luck.
Any way, For share holders and traders, the Record date does not matter. the pay date does not matter. the split does not matter.
er..well If you did not know about it, you might get upset until you found out why the stock was down 50%. But in DELL's case, it will probably go up 10% on pay day so it will only be down 40%.
Jim |
