...University, Abu Dhabi, UAE E-mail: r.pillai@alhosnu.ae Abstract The literature on dividend policy has produced a large body of theoretical and empirical research, especially following the publication of the dividend irrelevance hypothesis of Miller and Modigliani (1961). No general consensus has yet emerged after several decades of investigation, and scholars can often disagree even about the same empirical evidence. This paper aims at providing the reader with a comprehensive understanding of dividends and dividend policy by reviewing the main theories and explanations of dividend policy including dividend irrelevance hypothesis of Miller and Modigliani, bird-in-the-hand, tax-preference, clientele effects, signalling, and agency costs hypotheses. The paper also attempts to present the main empirical studies on corporate dividend policy. However, due to the enduring nature and extensive range of the debate about dividend policy which has spawned a vast amount of literature that grows by the day, a full review of all debates is not feasible. The paper reaches at a conclusion that the famous statement of Fisher Black about dividend policy "the harder we look at the dividends picture, the more it seems like a puzzle, with pieces that just do not fit together" (Black, 1976, p. 5) is still valid. Keywords: Dividends, Dividend Policy, Dividend Policy Theories JEL...
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...Chapter 17 Distributions to Shareholders: Dividends and Repurchases ANSWERS TO BEGINNING-OF-CHAPTER QUESTIONS 17-1 Investors who prefer a high payout policy would generally (a) need current cash income and (b) be in a low income tax bracket. Those who prefer a low payout would not need cash currently and would be in a high tax bracket. Universities and other tax-exempt institutions, and many retirees, are examples of those who prefer cash dividends, while people in their peak earning years often prefer low payouts. If someone holds a low payout stock and wants more cash income, he or she can sell the stock and buy a high payout stock, but that would result in brokerage costs and possibly capital gains taxes. If you owned a high payout stock and wanted less dividends, you could (1) sell out and switch to a low dividend stock, (2) try to get the company to lower its payout (while possibly starting a stock repurchase program), or (3) join a dividend reinvestment plan. Selling would involve brokerage costs and possibly capital gains taxes. The dividend reinvestment plan would avoid brokerage fees, but you would have to pay taxes currently even if you reinvest the dividends. You would have a good chance of getting the company to follow your advice under Point 2 if your name were Warren Buffett. 17-2 Here are the three theories, which are illustrated in the BOC model. They should be thought of as applying to investors in the aggregate and not to each...
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...project and also gain a better understanding of the results obtained. I have looked to find the relation between pre dividend price change and the dividend using regression analysis. Similarly, I have analyzed the relation between the post dividend price change and the dividend. It is a matter of fact that dividends are declared by a company primarily to generate capital and also at certain times to maintain the market sentiment. It is in the best interests of the company to maximize the market value of its share and companies use dividend as a tool to maintain their corporate image. However, the degree of correlation between the dividend and the market price is low which implies that several other internal and external factors affect the market value of shares. To gain a holistic picture, I also did a comparative study of two peers in a sector (steel)to better understand how the specific requirements of each sector also impact the dividend policy of a company. The conclusions derived from the analysis performed further consolidated theoretical knowledge and deviations were better understood. SYNOPSIS “Impact of Dividend on Stock Prices” Introduction The term "dividend" usually refers to a cash distribution of earnings. It is nothing but a part of profit (earning per share) which company decides to share with its shareholders in form of cash on a regular basis, usually annually (sometimes semiannually). Once a company makes a profit, they must decide on...
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...135 Prospect Street, P.O. Box 208200, New Haven, CT 06520-8200, deen.kemsley@yale.edu, (203) 432-3780, fax: (212) 432-6974. ** University of California at Los Angeles, Anderson Graduate School of Management, Box 9511481, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1481, (310) 825-4720, michael.williams@anderson.ucla.edu. Debt, Equity, and Taxes Abstract In this study, we extend Miller’s (1977) capital structure analysis by adding potentially high personal taxes on dividends and share repurchases, and by focusing on mature firms with at least some pre-existing equity. We demonstrate that personal taxes on equity distributions push new equity financing to an inferior corner, but they do not push internal equity (i.e., reinvested free cash flows) to a corner. Therefore an interior capital structure solution remains, in which firms are indifferent between using debt and internal equity financing, while preferring to avoid issuing additional external equity. Interestingly, many attributes of Miller’s model survive high personal taxes on equity distributions, including the aggregate debt-equity ratio, the identity of the marginal investment clientele, and investors’ portfolio allocations between debt and equity securities....
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...Walmart Case Study Unit I Walmart makes the right decision to drop “Always low prices. Always.” Switching to their new slogan “Save Money. Live better.”, is a way for them to bring in new customers, while still keeping the low prices that their existing customers love and expect. Sam Walton’s vision for Walmart that drove his marketing plan was that “low prices would lead to better living for customers.” (Ghazzawi, 2014 ) Consumers value a better life over just getting lower prices. A recent advertising campaign show Walmart customers-firefighters, accountants and teachers-telling people what they are doing with the money they saved shopping at Walmart. These things ranged from investing in college to affording braces for their kids. (Buss, 2014). Another campaign stated, “Walmart saves the average family about $3100.00 a year, no matter where they shop.” (Kotler, Keller, 2012) Pointing out the benefits of more savings, like the ability to travel with your family or afford college tuition resonates strongly with consumers who may feel like they are working harder and longer hour, yet still struggling to make ends meet. The opportunity to get a quality product while saving money is a big selling point. Walmart's strategy to reinforce the value of spending time with your family and enjoying life is a smart and profitable decision. A few a steps that Walmart can take to protect themselves when the economy is on the rise. Building a stronger customer loyalty helps...
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...Case Analysis - FPL Energy FPL Energy is one of the nation’s leading independent generators of electricity. Dedicated to generating clean energy, 80 % of its capacity is fueled by clean and renewable resources. The United States is the nation with the largest generator of wind energy, and it operates the two largest solar fields in the world. FPL Group, with annual revenues of more than $8 billion, is one of the nation's largest providers of electricity-related services. Its principal subsidiary, Florida Power & Light Company, serves approximately 3.9 million customer accounts in Florida. FPL Energy, LLC, and FPL Group energy-generating subsidiary, is a leader in producing electricity from clean and renewable fuels. 2. Historical Overview FPL Group is a far different company today than the one Jim Broadhead joined in January of 1989 when he became president and chief executive officer. FPL Group was then engaged in a number of businesses unrelated to its core electric skills, including insurance and financial services, real estate, cable television, and agriculture. The company's principal subsidiary, Florida Power and Light, was considered a well-managed utility with an emphasis on quality. However, the utility's spiraling costs had resulted in electric rates among the highest in the Southeast. Today, FPL Group is nationally known as a high quality, efficient, and customer-driven organization focused on energy-related products and services. With a growing...
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...MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS By (Name): Course: Tutor: University: City/State: Date: Marketing Communications Introduction It is imperative for all companies to communicate with the involved stakeholders. These stakeholders include the government, the vendors, the retailers, and the clientele in a particular locale. Marketing communications refers to management procedures that entail interactions with distinct audiences from diverse backgrounds (Blakeman 2009). The study shall examine the features of an integrated marketing communications mix strategy for Hewlett Packard Company. More intently, the research shall focus on a strategy that pertains to launching a new HP venture in China. In addition, this essay shall examine the competitors of HP in the Chinese locale, the features of the Chinese market, and the marketing strategies of HP’s competitors in China. It is necessary to define some critical terms that are relevant to the analysis of this essay. Integrated marketing communications involves displaying an idea that relates to marketing communications planning. It distinguishes the benefits extensive plans and it scrutinizes the strategic functions of different communication disciplines (Fill 2002). The marketing communications mix deals with the consolidation of the specific mixes and these are advertising, personal selling, sales promotion, public relations, and direct marketing (Ruskin-Brown...
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...Course: Master’s thesis in Business Administration, 15 credits (ECTS). Background and Problem Discussion: Financial scholars have been conducting studies of dividend policy for several decades; but different researchers have come to different conclusions. Financial economists have come to different conclusion about factors determining dividend policy and effect of dividend policies on common stock price. A general question may arise in the mind of the shareholders that the corporate dividend policy affects the value of their stocks. So, in addition to the theory of dividend policy, it is necessary to discuss the empirical evidence on the dividend payment practices of the corporations and their possible impacts on common stock prices. Empirical testing of dividend policy may focus on whether the determinants carry information in pricing the common stocks and whether the dividends are the only determinants serving as signals in conveying information about the current and future earnings of the corporation. Purpose: The present study will strives on the relative importance of dividends, retained earnings, and other determinants in the explanation of stock prices in Bangladesh with particular stock price of the companies associated with Dhaka Stock Exchange (henceforth DSE), an emerging capital market of Bangladesh. The prime objective of this study...
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...Case Study – Bridgestone Behavioral Health Center: CVP Analysis for Planning and Control Case Study – Bridgestone Behavioral Health Center: CVP Analysis for Planning and Control MEMO To: Dr. Thomas Russell, Executive Director, Bridgestone Behavioral Health Center From: Sheryl Marshall, Service Consulting Plus, LLC. Date: 8th September 2014 Subject: Financial performance of Bridgestone Behavioral Health Center over the next one year. Dear Dr. Russell, After having done a detailed study of the projected financial statements for the upcoming year, we have been able to identify a few glaring financial pitfalls the center has to beware of. The center has a lot of government aid provided to it but it also faces a host of challenges as the government has put various limits and caps on its volume and performance. These are the key features to be looked at when analyzing Bridgestone’s financial capabilities:- * The company receives Medicaid from various sources to facilitate its services. Key sources include the state government and certain private pay customers. * The projected budget indicates a certain level of volume which must be achieved for meager profits or breakeven. * The various facilities provided by the company include both on-campus and off-campus services, the major ones being – Group Counselling and Ambulatory Detoxification. The center’s financials show that it is just staying afloat for the past three years, despite exemplary staff performance...
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...policy and stock price volatility based on the previous studies. Dividend policy is referred as a direction to the dividend paid out. In practice, we can through three aspects to show how the dividend policy is important. Firstly, in term of the clientele effect, the transaction cost and tax of investor position can exert an influence on whether dividend policy gains are preferred which means that dividend policy will exert an important influence on investors’ behaviour. Secondly, according to the signaling effect, dividend paid is the mean by manager to signal the new information to investor. And thirdly on basis of the agency theory, dividend policy would attribute to the conflict between the interests of management and interests of stakeholders. Through the different dividend policy, firms can use the earning to make scrip dividends, special dividends, share repurchase and non–pecuniary benefits. In 1961, Modigliani and Miller (MM) argue that, given perfect and efficient markets, the pattern of dividend payments by a business have no effect on shareholder wealth. The only way to maximum shareholder wealth is investment with a positive NPV. So depend on M&M theory, Atrill (2000) agrees that to pay a lower dividend will simply be compensated by an increase in share price through reinvestment. De Angelo and Masulis, Kim (1988) and Miller (1986) supported that dividend paid can greatly reduce tax costs as tax clientele effect. As another theory, agency costs, Jensen and Meckling...
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...Best Financial Services Inc. This report is consistent with our signed Academic Integrity Form on file with the instructor. Matt van den Boogaard Emily Bedwell Alla Fedorets Saghi Ahmadi David Merlo Miguel Veloz September 28, 2015 ENTR 3140 – S10 1 Critical Issues In order for Best Financial Services Inc. (BFSI) to attain a growth in revenue of 5%1 per year for 4 years and for Linda Best to maintain a healthy work-life balance (35 hours/week2 and retirement in 10 years) (Grasby and Dunn, 2009), the following issues need to be addressed: • • • How to diversify the aging target market to decrease the amount of lost revenue streams How to address the current maximum capacity of clients in the extremely competitive environments How to gain a competitive advantage by achieving a score that is equal to or greater than private firms (as measured in the competitive matrix, see Exhibit 1) in the global economic depression Analysis Over 50% of BFSI’s clients are aged 51 years old or older (Exhibit 2). This aging target market will be inclined to start withdrawing their investments throughout their retirement (Exhibit 3). This is a major threat for BFSI because the company heavily relies on this declining market and will be losing revenue streams. BFSI has a major issue in that 57% of their clients are not making breakeven revenues (Exhibit 14). In addition, the smallest client segment is making the company the most money. The financial industry...
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...draw a line between the current situation described in the case and the period of 1997-2001. Two economic meltdowns, 1997 Asian financial crisis and 2008-2012 global recession, are at the background as the executive chairman of Shanghai Tang Raphael Le Manse has to make decision regarding a creative director position. During the both times, Le Masne longed for a change in a creative aspect of Shanghai Tang. In 2001 he was in search for a totally creative direction for the brand in order to overcome the challenges and turn the sales figures towards a rising course. In 2006 he asks himself how he would evolve the design and style to ensure economic turbulence doesn’t sweep Shanghai Tang off. As the company was in financial trouble and needed a new creative strategy the executive chairman was at the helm with a crucial decision to make. 7 years ago the result was an offer of the creative director position to Joanne Ooi who for the upcoming year became the unit of support to the executive chairman. Ooi and Le Manse discussed and debated about the brand, its image and reflection of China in its collections. Joanne was the person who would provide the theme for the season and elaborate on it by giving feedbacks to designers on a regular basis. Ooi was indeed “at the center of the design team” and demonstrated the importance and strength in having a creative director in the organization. The case clearly demonstrates the preference differences of two different...
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...Local Government Unit Personnel of Vigan City”, (Unpublished Master Thesis, University of Northern Philippines, Vigan City, 2006) Lumibao, Donna Marie C. “Computer and Information Technology in the local Government Units of the First District of Ilocos Sur”, (Unpublished Master Thesis, University of Northern Philippines, Vigan City, 2004) C. Magazine National Information Technology Plan. Info Trends, 1988 88 UNP Research Journal Vol. XIX January-December 2010 Linguistic Errors in the Oral Expositions of Speech Communication Students of the College of Teacher Education in the University of Northern Philippines Rommel V. Tabula, MAT Abstract The study generally examined the linguistic errors in the oral expositions of Speech Communication students of the College of Teacher Education in...
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...Retained Earnings or Cash Dividends? From the firm’s perspective, net income can be retained and reinvested or else paid out as cash dividends. The opportunity cost of one alternative is the other alternative. We already saw this when covering the cost of capital. Remember the cost associated with retained earnings (internal equity)? It was the going rate of return on the firm’s stock, since that is what we expect that the stockholders could earn if they were paid cash dividends that they would reinvest. A firm that cannot earn the going rate of return on its investments should pay out its money so the investors can earn that rate of return elsewhere. Likewise, if the firm pays cash dividends it gives up any opportunities present with earnings retention. A company with great growth opportunities that are expected to earn more than the company’s cost of capital would be giving up stockholder wealth increases if it paid cash dividends. Dividend Policy Theory We start our coverage of dividend policy theory with three extreme positions, labeled "basic views." These serve as benchmarks for thinking about the importance of dividend policy. They are all based on assumptions that leave out important pieces to the dividend puzzle. So after we cover them, we will proceed by taking into account some other factors that will help to "improve our thinking." Three basic views The three basic (and rather extreme) views of dividend policy are: dividends are irrelevant, higher dividends...
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...2.0. 1.0 INTRODUCTION 3.1. 1.1 INTRODUCTION OF THE CASE This case is about the impact of an environmental factor (External issue) on dividend policy of the firm (Internal issue). The environmental disaster was Hurricane Katrina which was caused the huge destruction across the south-eastern United States. Because of the storm, the stock market notably fell down. Since it is possible that the price of the shares once more increase even more than before in the near future, Ashley Swenson, chief financial officer (CFO) of Gainesboro Machine Tools Corporation has the dilemma to buy back stock or to spend the money as dividend the shareholders. In fact, the question is: How can she forecast the fortune of the stock market? In the other word, what are the driving forces (as the external factors) which are affecting on internal factors such as dividend policy? 3.2. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM Ashley Swenson, chief financial officer (CFO) in mid-September 2005 needed to submit recommendation to Gainesboro’s board of directors regarding the company’s dividend policy. The Gainesboro’s stock also fallen 18%to $22.15 due to post impact of the Hurricane Katrina. Now, Ashley Swenson’s dividend decision problem was compounded by the dilemma of whether to use company funds to pay shareholder dividends or to buy back stock. 3.3. HISTORY OF THE COMPANY Gainesboro Corporation was a company who designed and manufactured a number of machinery parts, including metal presses, dies...
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