Final answer:
To be eligible for the dividend, an investor needs to purchase the stock before the ex-dividend date, which is two business days before the record date. Thus, the latest date to purchase would be Tuesday, October 5 (D).
Step-by-step explanation:
The record date for a company's cash dividend is Thursday, October 7. To be eligible for this dividend, the stock must be purchased before the ex-dividend date, which is typically two business days before the record date. Given that the regular-way settlement for stocks is T+2 (two business days after the transaction), an investor would need to buy the stock before the settlement would occupy the record date.
Therefore, the latest date a customer may purchase the stock to receive the dividend would be two business days before Thursday, October 7, which is Tuesday, October 5.