Ex-dividend dates are very important to dividend investors, since you must purchase a stock prior to its ex-dividend date in order to receive its upcoming dividend payout. Below are 5 big-name stocks going ex-dividend for the week of January 21-25, 2013.

CVS Caremark Corporation  (CVS) is set to trade ex-dividend on January 22. The pharmacy chain retailer has a dividend yield of 1.74% based on Wednesday’s closing stock price of $51.76.  The company will be paying a quarterly dividend of 22.5 cents per share.   Dividend.com currently rates CVS as “Neutral” with a DARS™ rating of 3.4 stars out of 5 stars.

Colgate-Palmolive Company  (CL) has an ex-dividend date of January 22. The consumer products manufacturer has a dividend yield 2.29% based on Wednesday’s closing stock price of $107.83. The company will be paying a quarterly dividend of 62 cents per share. Dividend.com currently rates CL as “Neutral” with a DARS™ rating of 3.4 stars out of 5 stars.

Williams-Sonoma, Inc.  (WSM) will trade ex-dividend on January 23. The specialty home goods retailer has a dividend yield  of 2.01% based on Wednesday’s closing stock price of $47.13. The company will be paying a quarterly dividend of 22 cents per share. Dividend.com currently rates WSM as “Neutral” with a DARS™ rating of 3.4 stars out of 5 stars.

Siemens AG  (SI) will trade ex-dividend on January 24. The German electronics company has a dividend yield of 2.58% based on Wednesday’s closing stock price of $109.95. The company will be paying its annual dividend of $2.8633 per share. Dividend.com currently rates SI as “Neutral” with a DARS™ rating of 3.3 stars out of 5 stars.

The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation  (BK) has an ex-dividend date of January 24. The global financial services company offers a dividend yield of 1.99% based on Wednesday’s closing stock price of $26.04. The company will be paying a quarterly dividend of 13 cents per share. Dividend.com currently rates BK as “Neutral” with a DARS™ rating of 3.2 stars out of 5 stars.

Be sure to visit our complete recommended list of the Best Dividend Stocks, as well as a detailed explanation of our ratings system here.