AstraZeneca (AZN) Dividend Capture: 1.04% per event (1.6% annualized)
AZN
AstraZeneca (AZN) has touched its pre-ex close within 30 trading days in 100% of the last 10 ex-dividend events, with a median time-to-touch of 2 trading days (limit-order recovery basis). The dividend is below the typical daily price swing (signal-to-noise 0.20), meaning ordinary day-to-day noise can easily exceed the dividend itself.
Versus its sector, AZN sits roughly in line with the Healthcare sector benchmark of 100%. The sector median time-to-touch is 1 trading day, so this ticker touches more slowly than peers.
Historical base rates are not predictions; transaction costs, slippage, and ordinary-income tax on short holding periods can materially reduce realized profit. The next ex-dividend date is estimated at Aug 21, 2026 (±7 days), based on the historical pattern; the company has not yet declared a dividend.
- Touch rate (30d)
- 100%in line with sector
- Median days-to-touch
- 2din line with sector
- Signal-to-noise
- 0.20in line with sector
Recovery engine
TL;DR over the most recent 10 events.
- 30-day touch rate
- 100%in line with sector
- Median days-to-touch
- 2din line with sector
- Signal-to-noise (div / ATR)
- 0.20in line with sector
- Avg gap on ex-date
- -1.83%-1.50pp vs sector
- Win rate at MOC exit
- 55%
- Median drawdown during hold
- -4.07%+0.31pp vs sector
- Best / worst touch (days)
- 1 / 27
Next ex-dividend
Estimated from historical pattern ±7 days.
- Dividend
- $2.17
- Per-event yield
- 1.04%
- Annualized yield
- 1.57%
- Previously paid
- Feb 20, 2026 ($2.17)
- Last record date
- Feb 20, 2026
- Last payment date
- Mar 23, 2026
The company has not yet declared this dividend. Date and amount may shift when the official declaration arrives.
How AZN ranks in Healthcare
Compared with other stocks in this sector that pass our capture-quality filter (40 tickers). Lower rank number is better on every metric below.
- 30-day touch rate#1of 40
Beats ~98% of peers on this metric
- Median days to touch#35of 40
Beats ~13% of peers on this metric
- Signal-to-noise#18of 40
Beats ~55% of peers on this metric
AZN Dividend Capture History — Last 20 Ex-Dividend Events
Per-event gap on ex-date, the pre-ex close used as the touch target, trading days to first intraday high at or above that level, plus 5/30-day touch flags, drawdown and 5-day P&L for AstraZeneca (AZN). For a stricter close-at-bell exit timeline, use the simulator below (MOC mode). td = trading days from ex-date.
| Recovered 5d | Recovered 30d | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | $2.17 | -0.97% | $208.62 | 3 | yes | yes | -6.40% | +0.96% | |
| Q3 | $0.52 | -3.72% | $147.24 | 3 | yes | yes | -3.72% | +5.96% | |
| Q1 | $1.05 | -1.02% | $145.48 | 1 | yes | yes | -2.12% | +5.49% | |
| Q3 | $0.50 | -2.11% | $165.60 | 4 | yes | yes | -2.95% | +2.90% | |
| Q1 | $0.98 | -0.84% | $127.00 | 1 | yes | yes | -2.43% | +0.48% | |
| Q3 | $0.47 | 0.60% | $142.56 | 1 | yes | yes | -6.71% | -3.24% | |
| Q1 | $0.96 | -2.78% | $140.04 | 27 | no | yes | -9.67% | -5.37% | |
| Q3 | $0.46 | -0.07% | $132.43 | 1 | yes | yes | -3.81% | -1.36% | |
| Q1 | $0.96 | -7.55% | $121.42 | 2 | yes | yes | -7.92% | -1.73% | |
| Q3 | $0.44 | 0.12% | $112.92 | 1 | yes | yes | 0.12% | +6.59% | |
| Q1 | $0.95 | -0.91% | $98.90 | 1 | yes | yes | -5.83% | -3.28% | |
| Q3 | $0.44 | -0.84% | $112.54 | 3 | yes | yes | -3.16% | +1.30% | |
| Q1 | $0.95 | -3.93% | $95.14 | 5 | yes | yes | -8.83% | +3.56% | |
| Q3 | $0.45 | 0.07% | $87.84 | 1 | yes | yes | -0.61% | +1.10% | |
| Q1 | $0.95 | -3.37% | $84.78 | 10 | no | yes | -4.34% | -0.60% | |
| Q3 | $0.45 | -1.27% | $78.50 | 2 | yes | yes | -3.57% | -2.71% | |
| Q1 | $0.95 | -4.01% | $68.91 | 21 | no | yes | -8.84% | +0.09% | |
| Q3 | $0.45 | -2.35% | $59.50 | 17 | no | yes | -5.55% | -4.03% | |
| Q1 | $0.95 | 0.03% | $57.10 | 1 | yes | yes | -2.40% | +5.03% | |
| Q3 | $0.45 | -1.11% | $68.28 | 27 | no | yes | -4.39% | -3.49% |
Q1
- Dividend
- $2.17
- Gap %
- -0.97%
- Pre-ex close
- $208.62
- High touch (td)
- 3
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -6.40%
- P&L 5d %
- +0.96%
Q3
- Dividend
- $0.52
- Gap %
- -3.72%
- Pre-ex close
- $147.24
- High touch (td)
- 3
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -3.72%
- P&L 5d %
- +5.96%
Q1
- Dividend
- $1.05
- Gap %
- -1.02%
- Pre-ex close
- $145.48
- High touch (td)
- 1
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -2.12%
- P&L 5d %
- +5.49%
Q3
- Dividend
- $0.50
- Gap %
- -2.11%
- Pre-ex close
- $165.60
- High touch (td)
- 4
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -2.95%
- P&L 5d %
- +2.90%
Q1
- Dividend
- $0.98
- Gap %
- -0.84%
- Pre-ex close
- $127.00
- High touch (td)
- 1
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -2.43%
- P&L 5d %
- +0.48%
Q3
- Dividend
- $0.47
- Gap %
- 0.60%
- Pre-ex close
- $142.56
- High touch (td)
- 1
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -6.71%
- P&L 5d %
- -3.24%
Q1
- Dividend
- $0.96
- Gap %
- -2.78%
- Pre-ex close
- $140.04
- High touch (td)
- 27
- Recovered 5d
- no
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -9.67%
- P&L 5d %
- -5.37%
Q3
- Dividend
- $0.46
- Gap %
- -0.07%
- Pre-ex close
- $132.43
- High touch (td)
- 1
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -3.81%
- P&L 5d %
- -1.36%
Q1
- Dividend
- $0.96
- Gap %
- -7.55%
- Pre-ex close
- $121.42
- High touch (td)
- 2
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -7.92%
- P&L 5d %
- -1.73%
Q3
- Dividend
- $0.44
- Gap %
- 0.12%
- Pre-ex close
- $112.92
- High touch (td)
- 1
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- 0.12%
- P&L 5d %
- +6.59%
Q1
- Dividend
- $0.95
- Gap %
- -0.91%
- Pre-ex close
- $98.90
- High touch (td)
- 1
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -5.83%
- P&L 5d %
- -3.28%
Q3
- Dividend
- $0.44
- Gap %
- -0.84%
- Pre-ex close
- $112.54
- High touch (td)
- 3
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -3.16%
- P&L 5d %
- +1.30%
Q1
- Dividend
- $0.95
- Gap %
- -3.93%
- Pre-ex close
- $95.14
- High touch (td)
- 5
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -8.83%
- P&L 5d %
- +3.56%
Q3
- Dividend
- $0.45
- Gap %
- 0.07%
- Pre-ex close
- $87.84
- High touch (td)
- 1
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -0.61%
- P&L 5d %
- +1.10%
Q1
- Dividend
- $0.95
- Gap %
- -3.37%
- Pre-ex close
- $84.78
- High touch (td)
- 10
- Recovered 5d
- no
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -4.34%
- P&L 5d %
- -0.60%
Q3
- Dividend
- $0.45
- Gap %
- -1.27%
- Pre-ex close
- $78.50
- High touch (td)
- 2
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -3.57%
- P&L 5d %
- -2.71%
Q1
- Dividend
- $0.95
- Gap %
- -4.01%
- Pre-ex close
- $68.91
- High touch (td)
- 21
- Recovered 5d
- no
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -8.84%
- P&L 5d %
- +0.09%
Q3
- Dividend
- $0.45
- Gap %
- -2.35%
- Pre-ex close
- $59.50
- High touch (td)
- 17
- Recovered 5d
- no
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -5.55%
- P&L 5d %
- -4.03%
Q1
- Dividend
- $0.95
- Gap %
- 0.03%
- Pre-ex close
- $57.10
- High touch (td)
- 1
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -2.40%
- P&L 5d %
- +5.03%
Q3
- Dividend
- $0.45
- Gap %
- -1.11%
- Pre-ex close
- $68.28
- High touch (td)
- 27
- Recovered 5d
- no
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -4.39%
- P&L 5d %
- -3.49%
AZN Pre-Ex Touch Time Distribution
- ≤ 1 day840%
- 2–3 days525%
- 4–5 days210%
- 6–10 days15%
- 11–30 days420%
- 30+00%
40% within 1d · 75% within 5d · 100% within 30d
AZN Dividend Capture Calculator — After-Tax Yield
Pre-filled with AZN's next expected dividend and recent close. Adjust tax rate, holding period and slippage to estimate after-tax capture yield.
Holding shorter than the IRS 61-day rule disqualifies the dividend from “qualified” status — it is taxed as ordinary income at your marginal rate. Adjust Tax % accordingly.
- Gross dividend
- $434.00
- After-tax dividend
- $282.10
- Slippage round-trip
- -$41.72
- Net if price returns to pre-ex
- +$240.38
- Required recovery to break even
- 0.00%
- Per-event after-tax yield
- +0.58%
- Annual if all succeed
- ~29.0%
AZN Dividend Capture Backtest Simulator
Replay every historical AZN ex-dividend with two exit strategies: a GTC limit-order at the pre-ex close (limit-order P&L on first intraday touch), or hold for N days and exit at MOC. Pick the window and quarter filter that matches your plan and see realized P&L per event.
Sell back at the pre-ex close on the first intraday touch within the window. If it never touches, exit at MOC after the window expires (stop-loss).
Figures are gross — before tax, commissions, and slippage. Percents are per-event return on capital at entry (pre-ex close).
Cumulative P&L (equity curve)
Vertical axis: cumulative sum of per-event % (same units as the headline cumulative). Hover dots for exact values.
Per-event P&L distribution
20 trades in this sample · bar height ∝ count in each bucket (gross % per event).
Scenario P&L by event · AZN (20)
Scenario P&L — updates with exit mode, window, and quarter. History adds gap, touch, drawdown, and a fixed P&L 5d % (MOC). Same per-row % as that column only for MOC + 5d on the same rows. Oldest → newest, gross pre-ex close basis.
| Ex-date | P&L |
|---|---|
| -3.49% | |
| +1.66% | |
| -4.03% | |
| +0.09% | |
| +0.57% | |
| -0.60% | |
| +0.51% | |
| +1.00% | |
| +0.39% | |
| +0.96% | |
| +0.39% | |
| +0.79% | |
| +0.34% | |
| -5.37% | |
| +0.33% | |
| +0.78% | |
| +0.30% | |
| +0.72% | |
| +0.35% | |
| +1.04% |
Looking for full price seasonality? See AZN seasonality →
Frequently asked questions
What is the dividend capture success rate for AZN?
Across the last 10 ex-dividend events for AstraZeneca (AZN), the post-ex intraday high reached the pre-ex close within 30 trading days in 100% of cases, with a median time-to-touch of 2 trading days. We measure recovery via intraday high because that is when a GTC limit-order at the pre-ex close would actually fill, ending the trade at break-even with the dividend pocketed.
How long does it take AZN to recover its dividend gap?
Historically, AZN touches its pre-ex close in a median of 2 trading days, with the best case at 1 and the worst case at 27 trading days within our 30-day measurement window. A stricter close-based recovery (mark-to-MOC) is also computed in the database; explore it with the per-ticker simulator’s “Hold N days, exit MOC” mode rather than in the event table.
Is the dividend on AZN large enough to capture?
AZN has a signal-to-noise ratio of 0.20 (dividend / 14-day ATR). Values above 1.0 indicate the dividend is larger than the typical daily price swing, making capture trades more viable; below 0.5 means typical daily noise can easily wipe out the gain.
When is the next ex-dividend date for AZN?
The next ex-dividend date for AstraZeneca (AZN) is Aug 21, 2026, estimated based on the historical pattern (±7 days).
How does AZN compare to its sector for dividend capture?
Within Healthcare, the median 30-day pre-ex touch rate is 100%. AZN sits at 100% — at or below the sector benchmark.
Why does AZN dividend capture measure recovery via intraday high, not close?
A realistic capture trade exits via a GTC limit-order at the pre-ex close: the moment the post-ex intraday high touches that level, the order fills and the trader pockets the dividend at break-even. Measuring recovery via close is stricter (mark-to-MOC); we expose that path in the per-ticker simulator as the "Hold N days, exit MOC" mode. The high-based primary metric directly answers the trader-facing question "would my limit have filled?" — close-based answers "would I have been flat at the bell?".
How are dividend capture trades taxed in the US?
Holding period matters. Dividends are "qualified" (taxed at the long-term capital gains rate, 0/15/20%) only when the underlying shares are held for more than 60 days during the 121-day window centered on the ex-dividend date. Dividend capture trades typically hold less than 61 days, so the dividend is taxed at your ordinary income bracket. Always consult a qualified tax advisor.
What are the main risks of a dividend capture strategy?
Three structural risks: (1) the share price may not recover the gap within your holding window; (2) ordinary-income tax can consume the after-tax yield; (3) transaction costs and bid/ask slippage can wipe out small dividends. Historical statistics measure base rates; they do not guarantee any single trade will work.