The clock is ticking on two of the most recognizable dividend payers on the Nasdaq. Both Coca-Cola Consolidated (NASDAQ:COKE | COKE Price Prediction) and Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST) go ex-dividend on the same day, Friday, July 24, 2026, with both payments landing in shareholder accounts on August 7, 2026. To capture either check, shares must be owned before the ex-date, which means the last practical day to buy is Thursday, July 23, 2026.
The mechanics matter here. The ex-dividend date is the cutoff: buy on or after July 24 and the seller keeps this dividend, not you. The pay date is simply when cash hits your account. Miss the ex-date, and there is no catching up until the next quarterly cycle.
Coca-Cola Consolidated (NASDAQ: COKE)
Coca-Cola Consolidated is the largest independent Coca-Cola bottler in the United States, headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. It operates as an independent bottler distinct from The Coca-Cola Company. The indicated annual dividend runs $1.00, and the current dividend yield sits at roughly 0.56%. To be in for this payment, purchase shares by the close on Thursday, July 23, 2026.
Coverage is not in question. Against trailing EPS of $7.26 and FY2025 EPS of $7.98, a $1.00 annual payout leaves an enormous cushion. FY2025 operating cash flow was $931.9 million against capex of $312.3 million, producing free cash flow of $619.6 million, far more than needed to fund the regular dividend. Q1 FY2026 revenue of $1.847 billion rose 16.9% year over year, though adjusted gross margin slipped 70 basis points to 39.1% on roughly $35 million of incremental aluminum costs tied to tariffs and supply.
The caveat is the modest yield and lumpy capital-return history. COKE has paid special dividends in the past (a $16.50 distribution ex-January 2024, and $2.50 payments during late 2024 and early 2025), so the regular $0.25 cadence understates total cash returned over time. The stock is up over 60% in the past year and trades at a trailing PE of 24, so while the regular dividend doesn’t look huge – there’s a lot to like about the underlying company.
Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ: COST)
Costco is the membership warehouse operator investors either already own or wish they did. The company declared a regular quarterly dividend of $1.47 per share, with an ex-dividend date of July 24, 2026 and a payment date of August 7, 2026. The indicated annual dividend is $5.88, and the trailing yield reads roughly 0.58%. Again, the last day to buy and still receive this payment is Thursday, July 23, 2026. The regular quarterly rate stepped up from $1.30 earlier this year to the current $1.47, continuing a multi-year pattern of annual raises.
Coverage looks pristine on the EPS base. Trailing EPS sits at $19.82, and FY2025 EPS was $18.21 on net income of $8.10 billion. FY2025 operating cash flow of $13.34 billion and free cash flow of $7.84 billion comfortably fund the $5.88 annual payout with room for continued warehouse expansion (heading toward roughly 942 warehouses by fiscal year-end) and buybacks. Q3 FY2026 revenue reached $70.53 billion, up 11.6% year over year, with comparable sales up 9.8% and the worldwide membership renewal rate at 89.7%. Recurring membership fees of $1.37 billion that quarter act as a nearly bond-like source of cash to backstop the dividend.
The real risk is valuation. COST carries a trailing PE of 47 and a forward PE of 41, so investors are paying up for the compounding story. The stock is down 4% over the past week, though still up over 6% year to date. Costco also occasionally pays large special dividends (the last was $15.00 in December 2023), which functions as an occasional bonus on top of the regular payout.
For income-focused readers weighing companion ideas, our research on 10 Dividend Kings to Buy Now and Hold Forever pairs naturally with a blue-chip cadence like this.
The Bottom Line
Both COKE and COST are quality names first and dividend payers second, with yields modest enough that a single quarterly payment is a side benefit rather than a thesis. That said, if these were already on a watch list, the calendar has now made the decision concrete. The ex-dividend date for both is July 24, 2026, and shares must be owned before then to receive the August 7 payment. After Thursday’s close, this cycle is gone until the next declaration.
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