Fourteen S&P/ASX All Ords Index (ASX: XAO) shares are set to go ex-dividend next week, providing two opportunities.
In order to receive a dividend, you must own the ASX share before its ex-dividend date.
If you've had your eye on an ASX share for a while, and you're ready to buy, the ex-dividend date can provide a deadline to act.
Might as well buy and pick up the next dividend payment if the stock is trading at an acceptable price, right?
Alternatively, you could play a longer game, and wait for the ex-dividend date to arrive before buying the stock.
This can be a good strategy because share prices tend to fall on the ex-dividend date.
This happens because the stock is fundamentally worth less without the next dividend payment attached.
Many companies offer dividend reinvestment plans (DRPs).
DRPs allow investors to instruct the company to use their dividends to buy more shares on their behalf, instead of paying cash.
After lodging your DRP form, this process becomes automatic.
It's an easy, passive way for investors increase their shareholdings in a company over time.
And every now and then, a company will offer a discount to shareholders participating in the DRP.
Bonus!
Image source: Getty Images
ASX shares with ex-dividend dates next week
| ASX share | Ex-dividend date | Dividend amount | Pay day |
| Lycopodium Ltd (ASX: LYL) | 23 March | 22 cents per share | 2 April |
| NRW Holdings Ltd (ASX: NWH) | 23 March | 8.5 cents per share | 9 April |
| Cash Converters International Ltd (ASX: CCV) | 23 March | 1 cent per share | 15 April |
| Cedar Woods Properties Ltd (ASX: CWP) | 23 March | 14 cents per share | 24 April |
| Civmec Ltd (ASX: CVL) | 24 March | 2.5 cents per share | 10 April |
| Naos Emerging Opportunities Company Ltd (ASX: NCC) | 25 March | 2.1 cents per share | 24 April |
| Perenti Ltd (ASX: PRN) | 25 March | 3.3 cents per share | 9 April |
| Service Stream Ltd (ASX: SSM) | 25 March | 3 cents per share | 10 April |
| Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT) | 25 March | 12 cents per share | 16 April |
| WCM Global Growth Ltd (ASX: WQG) | 26 March | 2.2 cents per share | 15 April |
| Tourism Holdings Ltd (ASX: THL) | 26 March | 2.5 cents per share | 10 April |
| IPD Group Ltd (ASX: IPG) | 26 March | 6.8 cents per share | 10 April |
| Salter Brothers Emerging Companies Ltd (ASX: SB2) | 26 March | 2 cents per share | 23 April |
| Vita Life Sciences Ltd (ASX: VLS) | 27 March | 9.5 cents per share | 10 April |
