# The Ultimate Guide to ATVI Dividend Date: History, Payouts, and Future Outlook
Investors in Activision Blizzard, known by its stock ticker ATVI, often have one key question: when is the next ATVI dividend date? For years, the company was a reliable source of income for shareholders. However, the landscape changed dramatically following its acquisition by Microsoft. This guide provides a comprehensive, expert-level breakdown of everything you need to know about ATVI dividends, from their historical patterns to the current status and what it means for your investment strategy.
Understanding dividend dates is crucial for income-focused investors. It dictates when you need to own the stock to receive a payout and when you can expect the cash to hit your brokerage account. We will demystify the key dates, explore the company’s dividend history, and analyze the future following the monumental Microsoft deal.
## Understanding Key Dividend Dates for ATVI
Before diving into specifics, let’s clarify the critical dates surrounding any dividend payment. For ATVI, when it was paying dividends, it followed a standard quarterly schedule. These dates are interconnected.
DECLARATION DATE: This is when the company’s board of directors officially announces the next dividend. They state the amount and set the other key dates.
EX-DIVIDEND DATE: This is arguably the most important date for investors. To be eligible for the declared dividend, you must purchase the stock before the ex-dividend date. If you buy on or after this date, you will not receive the upcoming payout. The stock price typically drops by roughly the dividend amount on this date.
RECORD DATE: This is the date the company reviews its records to determine which shareholders are eligible to receive the dividend. You must be on the company’s books as a shareholder by the end of the record date.
PAYMENT DATE: This is the day the dividend is actually credited to shareholders’ brokerage accounts.
For ATVI, these dates were typically set well in advance, providing predictability for its investor base.
## A Look Back: Activision Blizzard’s Dividend History
Activision Blizzard initiated its dividend program in 2010. For over a decade, it established a pattern of reliable, and often growing, quarterly payments. This was a sign of the company’s strong cash flow generation from powerhouse franchises like Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and Candy Crush.
The company had a history of increasing its dividend periodically. For instance, in 2021, Activision Blizzard raised its quarterly dividend by approximately 15%, from $0.47 to $0.54 per share. This consistent growth made it an attractive stock for dividend growth investors before the acquisition talks began. According to the company’s financial reports, it returned billions to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks over the years.
## The Microsoft Acquisition and Its Impact on ATVI Dividends
This is where the story takes a definitive turn. In January 2022, Microsoft announced its intention to acquire Activision Blizzard for $95.00 per share in an all-cash transaction. The deal was finally completed in October 2023 after overcoming significant regulatory hurdles.
Here is the critical point for dividend seekers: CASH ACQUISITIONS TYPICALLY TERMINATE THE TARGET COMPANY’S DIVIDEND. Once the acquisition agreement was signed, Activision Blizzard’s independent dividend policy was effectively over. The final dividend was paid to shareholders of record before the deal’s closure.
Microsoft does pay a dividend, but Activision Blizzard no longer exists as a separate, publicly traded entity. ATVI stock was delisted, and shareholders received $95.00 in cash for each share they owned. Therefore, searching for a future ATVI dividend date is now moot. The focus shifts entirely to Microsoft’s dividend policy for those who reinvested their proceeds.
## ATVI vs. MSFT: A Post-Acquisition Dividend Comparison
For former ATVI shareholders who may have rolled their investment into Microsoft stock, understanding the difference in dividend profiles is essential. The table below highlights key distinctions.
| Feature | Activision Blizzard (ATVI) – Historical | Microsoft (MSFT) – Current |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Status | Terminated after acquisition (Oct 2023) | Active and growing |
| Payment Frequency | Quarterly | Quarterly |
| Dividend Yield (Approx.) | Was ~0.5-0.8% prior to acquisition | ~0.7-0.8% (as of mid-2024) |
| Dividend Growth History | Periodic increases | Strong, consistent annual increases for nearly two decades |
| Primary Investor Appeal | Modest yield with growth gaming cash flow | Modest yield with reliable growth and mega-cap stability |
As shown, Microsoft offers a more established and robust dividend growth track record, though the starting yield is similarly modest. The investment thesis shifts from a pure-play gaming company to a diversified tech giant.
## How to Find Dividend Information for Any Company
Since ATVI’s dividend story has concluded, let’s equip you with a universal method for researching dividends for any active company. This five-step guide is part of our standard analyst toolkit.
STEP 1: IDENTIFY THE OFFICIAL INVESTOR RELATIONS SITE. Go to the company’s official website and find the “Investor Relations” section. This is the source of truth.
STEP 2: LOOK FOR THE DIVIDEND CALENDAR OR NEWS RELEASES. Companies always announce dividends via press releases, which are archived in the IR news section. Many also maintain a dedicated dividend calendar page.
STEP 3: NOTE THE KEY DATES. From the press release, extract the declaration date, ex-dividend date, record date, payment date, and the amount per share.
STEP 4: CONSULT FINANCIAL DATA PORTALS. Reputable sites like Yahoo Finance, Nasdaq.com, or Bloomberg list dividend histories and upcoming dates. Use these to cross-reference, but always verify with the official IR site.
STEP 5: SET UP ALERTS. Use your brokerage platform or financial websites to set up email alerts for dividend announcements and ex-dividend dates for stocks in your portfolio.
Following this process ensures you never miss a critical date. According to a 2023 report by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, misunderstanding ex-dividend dates is a common and costly error for retail investors.
## Common Misconceptions and Investor Warnings
A critical warning is necessary here. A persistent and dangerous misconception is that a high dividend yield is always good. Often, an unsustainably high yield is a signal of financial distress or an impending dividend cut. ATVI’s yield was always modest, reflecting its growth orientation.
WARNING: BEWARE OF “ZOMBIE” DIVIDEND DATES. The most relevant warning for former ATVI investors is to ignore any website or service still listing upcoming ATVI dividend dates. Activision Blizzard is a private subsidiary of Microsoft and no longer pays dividends. Any such information is outdated, incorrect, and potentially misleading. Relying on it could lead to poor investment decisions based on a non-existent income stream.
Another common mistake is buying a stock right before its ex-dividend date solely to capture the dividend. As mentioned, the stock price usually drops by the dividend amount on the ex-date. If you are subject to taxes on the dividend, this trade can be economically neutral or even negative after accounting for fees and taxes.
## The Future of Gaming Dividends: Where to Look Now
With ATVI’s dividend program retired, where should income-oriented gaming investors look? The landscape has shifted. Other major players like Take-Two Interactive have not traditionally paid dividends, focusing on growth and reinvestment.
However, some broader tech and entertainment companies offer exposure to gaming with a dividend component. Companies like Sony (which pays a dividend) and even Microsoft itself are now central to the gaming ecosystem. The investment thesis becomes less about direct dividend payments from a pure-play publisher and more about investing in the diversified platforms that encompass gaming.
From our team’s experience analyzing media and tech stocks, the trend suggests that large, cash-rich platform companies are more likely to provide stable dividends, while pure-play video game publishers may prioritize aggressive reinvestment for growth in a competitive market.
## Your Dividend Research Checklist
To ensure you are accurately tracking income investments, use this actionable checklist. Do not proceed with an investment based on dividend yield alone without completing these steps.
VERIFY the company still exists as an independent, publicly-traded entity.
CONFIRM the dividend policy is active via the official Investor Relations website.
CALCULATE the payout ratio to assess dividend sustainability.
MARK the ex-dividend and payment dates on your calendar.
UNDERSTAND the tax implications of the dividend in your jurisdiction.
CROSS-REFERENCE information from at least two reliable financial sources.
IGNORE any data for delisted stocks like ATVI regarding future payments.
By internalizing this guide, you have moved beyond simply searching for an ATVI dividend date to understanding the full lifecycle of a dividend stock, including its conclusion through acquisition. This knowledge empowers you to make more informed decisions for your entire portfolio.
