Readers hoping to buy Home Federal Bancorp, Inc. of Louisiana ( NASDAQ:HFBL ) for its dividend will need to make their move shortly, as the stock is about to trade ex-dividend. The ex-dividend date is one business day before a company's record date, which is the date on which the company determines which shareholders are entitled to receive a dividend. The ex-dividend date is of consequence because whenever a stock is bought or sold, the trade takes at least two business day to settle. Thus, you can purchase Home Federal Bancorp of Louisiana's shares before the 26th of January in order to receive the dividend, which the company will pay on the 12th of February.