If you sell your stock before the ex-dividend date
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Quote:
If you sell your stock before the ex-dividend date, you also are selling away your right to the stock dividend. Your sale includes an obligation to deliver any shares acquired as a result of the dividend to the buyer of your shares , since the seller will receive an I.O.U. or "due bill" from his or her broker for the additional shares.
http://www.sec.gov/answers/dividen.htm