Readers hoping to buy The Shyft Group, Inc. ( NASDAQ:SHYF ) for its dividend will need to make their move shortly, as the stock is about to trade ex-dividend. The ex-dividend date is usually set to be one business day before the record date which is the cut-off date on which you must be present on the company's books as a shareholder in order to receive the dividend. The ex-dividend date is an important date to be aware of as any purchase of the stock made on or after this date might mean a late settlement that doesn't show on the record date. In other words, investors can purchase Shyft Group's shares before the 16th of August in order to be eligible for the dividend, which will be paid on the 18th of September.