The Rural Funds Group (ASX: RFF) share price is sliding lower today despite no news having been released by the trust. However, it's one of many ASX shares trading ex-dividend today.
At the time of writing, the Rural Funds share price is $3.11, 2.2% lower than its previous close.
Let's take a closer look at what's likely dragging the agriculture-focused real estate investment trust's (REIT's) share price lower on Thursday.
Rural Funds share price slides amid ex-dividend date
The Rural Funds share price is slumping. Meanwhile, those investing in the company today will miss out on its upcoming dividend.
That's right, Rural Funds has surpassed its ex-dividend date. That means that those who held the company's stock as of yesterday's close will be entitled to its upcoming dividend, rather than any future buyer.
The company will be handing out a 2.9331 cent per share, unfranked, ordinary dividend on 31 January 2022.
It's the largest dividend ever handed out by Rural Funds, beating its 4 previous quarterly dividend payments by 0.11 of a cent.
Rural Funds has been paying out a dividend approximately every 3 months since 2013.
It's one of many ASX-listed REITs going ex-dividend today. Others include:
Centuria Industrial REIT (ASX: CIP), Centuria Office REIT (ASX: COF), National Storage REIT (ASX: NSR), Charter Hall Social Infrastructure REIT (ASX: CQE), Charter Hall Retail REIT (ASX: CQR), Arena REIT No 1 (ASX: ARF), Waypoint REIT Ltd (ASX: WPR), 360 Capital REIT (ASX: TOT) Healthco Healthcare and Wellness REIT (ASX: HCW), and HomeCo Daily Needs REIT (ASX: HDN).
Of those, only the Arena REIT No 1 share price is posting a gain today, while 360 Capital REIT is flat with its previous close.
Despite today's dip, the Rural Funds share price is still in the long-term green. Right now, it is 19% higher than it was at the start of 2021. It has also gained 5% over the last 30 days.
