Investors hunting for passive income have a narrow window to act on three major FTSE 100 stocks heading toward their ex-dividend dates this month.
Owning shares before an ex-dividend date entitles holders to a portion of any profit that management decides to distribute to shareholders.
BT Group (LSE: BT.A) is the first of the trio, with its ex-dividend date falling on 6 August, offering investors 5.78p per share.
The communications giant recently posted a trading update showing flat year-on-year Q1 revenue of £4.3bn alongside a 4% decline in reported pre-tax profit.
Despite those headline numbers, BT said it remains on track to achieve its targets for cash flow, providing some reassurance for income-focused investors.
BT has also signalled it is targeting “low to mid-single digit growth” for dividends, a modest but credible commitment given the company’s sizeable debt load.
The stock carries a forecast dividend yield of 4.4%, which already sits above the broader FTSE 100 average, while its price-to-earnings ratio of just 10 reflects ongoing regulatory and competitive pressures.
Imperial Brands (LSE: IMB) is the second name on the list, going ex-dividend on 20 August with analysts expecting a return of almost 42p per share to qualifying investors.
The tobacco company is forecast to yield 6% in the current financial year, placing it among the biggest payers in the UK’s top-tier index.
Imperial’s shares have fallen 10% in 2026 so far, partly driven by a difficult April after the company flagged that conflict in the Middle East might begin to have an impact on trading.
Despite that share price weakness, dividends are currently expected to be covered twice by profit, suggesting the risk of a near-term cut remains relatively low.
The stock’s price-to-earnings ratio of eight sits significantly below the long-term average for the UK market, which some investors may view as a compelling entry point.
Rounding out the trio is Investec (LSE: INVP), a recent addition to the FTSE 100, which is also going ex-dividend on 20 August with a payment of 21p per share to qualifying holders.
The wealth manager carries the highest forecast yield of the three stocks at 6.6%, making it a standout option for investors prioritising income generation.
That elevated yield does come with risk, as a significant economic downturn could reduce assets under management and compress the fees the company receives.
For now, however, the total payout looks set to be comfortably covered by earnings, and analysts are anticipating an 11% hike in FY28 as well.
Investec’s forecast price-to-earnings ratio of just seven makes it not only cheap relative to its peer group but also the lowest-valued stock among this particular trio.
For investors building an income-focused portfolio, all three stocks present different risk and reward profiles worth weighing carefully before any ex-dividend deadline passes.
