Written by: Timothy J. McIntosh

For dividend investors, ex-dividend dates are important since you most own a stock before its ex-dividend date to qualify for the dividend.

The 7 big-name stocks going ex-dividend next week are:

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE: MRK) will go ex-dividend on Tuesday, December 13.

• The pharmaceutical company currently pays a quarterly dividend of $0.47 and has a dividend yield of 3.10%.
• The company has been raising its dividend since 2012 and typically increases its dividend by about 2% a year...

Public Storage (NYSE: PSA) is going ex-dividend on Monday, December 12.

• The self storage real estate investment trust (REIT) currently pays a quarterly dividend of $2.00 and offers a dividend yield of 3.75%.
• The company has been increasing its dividend consecutively since 2010 by an average of 20% each year...

Macy's Inc. (NYSE: M) will go ex-dividend on Tuesday, December  13.

• The department store retailer currently pays a quarterly dividend of $0.3775 and has a dividend yield of about 3.60%.  
• The company has been raising its dividend every year since 2011, and typically offers significant raises...

Hewlett Packard (NYSE: HPQ) is going ex-dividend on Monday, December 12.

• The technology company offers a quarterly dividend of $0.1327 and has a dividend yield of 3.40%.
• The company has been boosting its dividend every year since 2011, typically increasing its dividend by about 10%.

Viacom, Inc. (NYSE: VIAB) will go ex-dividend on Tuesday, December 13.

• The media company pays a quarterly dividend of $0.20 and has a dividend yield of about 2.20%.
• The company lowered its dividend from $0.40 earlier this year to free up cash and to pay down its debt...

Tiffany & Co. (NYSE: TIF) is going ex-dividend on Friday, December 16.

• The jewelry company currently pays a quarterly dividend of $0.45 and has a dividend yield of approximately 2.15%.
• The company has been increasing  its dividend each year since 2010. It typically raises its dividend by about 15%.

Nasdaq Inc. (NYSE: NDAQ) will go ex-dividend on Wednesday, December 14.

• The exchange currently offers a quarterly dividend of $0.32 and has a dividend yield around 2%.
• The company has been increasing its dividend every year since 2013.