West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) has touched its pre-ex close within 30 trading days in 100% of the last 20 ex-dividend events, with a median time-to-touch of 1 trading day (limit-order recovery basis). The dividend is below the typical daily price swing (signal-to-noise 0.02), meaning ordinary day-to-day noise can easily exceed the dividend itself.
Versus its sector, WST sits roughly in line with the Healthcare sector benchmark of 100%. The sector median time-to-touch is 1 trading day, matching the peer pace.
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 Jul 29, 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
- 1din line with sector
- Signal-to-noise
- 0.02-0.13 vs sector
Recovery engine
TL;DR over the most recent 20 events.
| Metric | Value | vs sector |
|---|---|---|
| 30-day touch rate | 100% | in line with sector |
| Median days-to-touch | 1d | in line with sector |
| Signal-to-noise (div / ATR) | 0.02 | -0.13 vs sector |
| Avg gap on ex-date | -0.16% | +0.17pp vs sector |
| Win rate at MOC exit | 37% | — |
| Median drawdown during hold | -5.28% | -0.87pp vs sector |
| Best / worst touch (days) | 1 / 7 | — |
Next ex-dividend
Estimated from historical pattern ±7 days.
| Dividend | $0.22 |
| Per-event yield | 0.08% |
| Annualized yield | 0.29% |
| Previously paid | Apr 29, 2026 ($0.22) |
| Last record date | Apr 29, 2026 |
| Last payment date | May 6, 2026 |
WST 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 West Pharmaceutical Services (WST). For a stricter close-at-bell exit timeline, use the simulator below (MOC mode). td = trading days from ex-date.
| Recovered 5d | Recovered 30d | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q2 | $0.22 | 1.41% | $292.13 | 1 | yes | yes | 0.19% | — | |
| Q1 | $0.22 | -1.01% | $240.53 | 6 | no | yes | -6.94% | -1.36% | |
| Q4 | $0.22 | -0.20% | $277.41 | 1 | yes | yes | -8.68% | -6.95% | |
| Q3 | $0.21 | 0.05% | $252.94 | 1 | yes | yes | -7.62% | -6.11% | |
| Q2 | $0.21 | -0.78% | $213.46 | 3 | yes | yes | -4.06% | -0.05% | |
| Q1 | $0.21 | 0.30% | $330.47 | 1 | yes | yes | -40.38% | -34.96% | |
| Q4 | $0.21 | 0.38% | $327.68 | 1 | yes | yes | -8.64% | -4.82% | |
| Q3 | $0.20 | -0.04% | $299.51 | 1 | yes | yes | -5.45% | -1.85% | |
| Q2 | $0.20 | 1.24% | $375.35 | 1 | yes | yes | -6.02% | -4.71% | |
| Q1 | $0.20 | 0.00% | $370.50 | 1 | yes | yes | -0.55% | +7.55% | |
| Q4 | $0.20 | 0.24% | $333.03 | 1 | yes | yes | -1.12% | +4.40% | |
| Q3 | $0.19 | -0.68% | $376.06 | 1 | yes | yes | -6.77% | -1.12% | |
| Q2 | $0.19 | -0.91% | $371.97 | 7 | no | yes | -8.19% | -0.58% | |
| Q1 | $0.19 | -1.20% | $264.11 | 3 | yes | yes | -4.04% | +0.64% | |
| Q4 | $0.19 | 0.26% | $225.94 | 1 | yes | yes | -2.97% | +9.71% | |
| Q3 | $0.18 | 1.22% | $291.98 | 1 | yes | yes | 0.75% | +7.38% | |
| Q2 | $0.18 | -0.59% | $372.42 | 1 | yes | yes | -17.69% | -10.70% | |
| Q1 | $0.18 | -3.35% | $379.78 | 2 | yes | yes | -5.10% | -0.33% | |
| Q4 | $0.18 | 0.16% | $413.27 | 1 | yes | yes | -1.75% | +7.05% | |
| Q3 | $0.17 | 0.26% | $371.00 | 1 | yes | yes | -2.29% | +2.04% |
- —
- -1.36%
- -6.95%
- -6.11%
- -0.05%
- -34.96%
- -4.82%
- -1.85%
- -4.71%
- +7.55%
- +4.40%
- -1.12%
- -0.58%
- +0.64%
- +9.71%
- +7.38%
- -10.70%
- -0.33%
- +7.05%
- +2.04%
WST Pre-Ex Touch Time Distribution
First trading session whose intraday high reached the pre-ex close within the 30-day measurement window. td = trading days from ex-date.
| Touch window | Distribution | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| ≤ 1 day | 15 | 75% | |
| 2–3 days | 3 | 15% | |
| 4–5 days | 0 | 0% | |
| 6–10 days | 2 | 10% | |
| 11–30 days | 0 | 0% | |
| 30+ | 0 | 0% |
WST Dividend Capture Calculator — After-Tax Yield
Pre-filled with WST's next expected dividend and recent close. Adjust tax rate, holding period and slippage to estimate after-tax capture yield.
U.S. ordinary-income rate (22-37%) applies on holds shorter than 61 days. Hold longer to qualify for the 0/15/20% qualified-dividend rate.
- Gross dividend
- $44.00
- After-tax dividend
- $28.60
- Slippage round-trip
- -$58.43
- Net if price returns to pre-ex
- $-29.83
- Required recovery to break even
- 0.05%
- Per-event after-tax yield
- -0.05%
- Annual if all succeed
- ~-2.6%
WST Dividend Capture Backtest Simulator
Replay every historical WST ex-dividend with two exit strategies: a GTC limit-order at the pre-ex close, or hold for N days and exit at MOC. Pick the window and quarter filter that matches your plan.
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 · WST (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 |
|---|---|
| +0.05% | |
| +0.04% | |
| +0.05% | |
| +0.05% | |
| +0.06% | |
| +0.08% | |
| +0.07% | |
| -0.58% | |
| +0.05% | |
| +0.06% | |
| +0.05% | |
| +0.05% | |
| +0.07% | |
| +0.06% | |
| +0.06% | |
| +0.10% | |
| +0.08% | |
| +0.08% | |
| -1.36% | |
| +0.08% |
Results are illustrative only and are not financial advice. Capture simulations use historical prices and simplified costs and tax assumptions. Actual fills, borrow fees, and market rules vary. Consult a qualified advisor before trading.