P&G Hygiene, IRCTC among 5 companies to trade ex-dividend on February 20

Shares of major companies, including IRCTC, P&G Hygiene and others, are expected to trade ex-dividend on Thursday, February 20.

Around 5 companies are expected to trade ex-dividend, which includes AVT Natural Products, ESAB India, Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), Procter & Gamble Hygiene and Healthcare (P&G Hygiene) and Shivalik Bimetal Controls.

The ex-date marks the day a stock begins trading without dividend entitlement, meaning investors must own the stock before this date to receive the pay out. The company, however, determines the list of eligible shareholders based on their records on the record date.

A dividend refers to a payment made by a company to its shareholders, typically as a share of the company’s profits. Companies announce dividends to distribute a portion of their earnings to investors, usually on a regular basis such as quarterly or annually.

The company which manufactures and sells natural ingredients and extracts had declared its interim dividend on February 5, 2025, for ₹0.03 per share.

The supplier of welding and cutting products in India had declared its interim dividend on January 24, 2025, for ₹23 per share.

The PSU firm had announced an interim dividend of ₹3 per share on January 29 with the date set as February 20. This is the second interim dividend for IRCTC in this fiscal year.

Procter & Gamble Hygiene and Healthcare had declared an interim dividend on January 31, 2025, of ₹110 per share.

The company had declared its interim dividend on February 7, 2025, for ₹1.20 per share.

The domestic equity market will likely open on a negative note on Thursday, February 20.

At 7:25 AM, the GIFT NIFTY futures were trading at 22,894.50, down 54 points, or 0.24%. This suggests that the NIFTY50 index will open 70 points lower.

On the global front, China's central bank on Thursday kept lending rates unchanged, showing authorities are going slow with monetary stimulus as they prioritise financial and currency stability.

In the overnight trade, US stocks ended modestly higher, and the S&P 500 notched its second straight all-time closing high as investors assessed the minutes from the Federal Reserve's January policy meeting and digested US President Donald Trump's tariff plans.