To pay or not to pay: what matters the most for dividend payments?

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 230-244 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ranajee Ranajee ◽  
Rajesh Pathak ◽  
Akanksha Saxena
Keyword(s):  
Financial Constraints ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Payout Policy ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Dividend Payment ◽  
Dividend Payout ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Life Cycle Theory ◽  
Dividend Payments ◽  
Growth Prospects

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to test the stickiness of payout policy across times for Indian firms, by identifying the determinants of dividend payout (for amount of dividends as well as probability of dividends) and examine their predictive consistency through good and bad times, affiliation categories, amid controls for idiosyncratic characteristics. The authors also examine the scantly explored effects of financial constraints on firms’ dividend decisions. Design/methodology/approach The authors use various regression models, i.e. panel, Tobit and logit models; and amid control for firm-specific characteristics throughout the analysis. Findings The authors observe payout levels on average increasing with time for Indian firms. Further, group firms pay higher dividends compared to standalone firms. Firms’ leverage, profitability, non-promoters holdings, growth prospects and dividend event are apparently the important determinants of payout ratio and are mostly, but not always, consistent through times and firms’ categories, for both the amount as well as the likelihood of dividend payments. Financial constraints have an overall negative impact on dividends with significantly varying magnitude across periods of stability, crisis and recovery. Firms’ age and size are positive and significant factors for dividends level decisions in Indian firms, which is consistent with the life-cycle theory. However, inconsistent size and age effect is observed in determining the likelihood of dividend payment. Research limitations/implications This study adds to the growing literature on the changing trends and contributing factors of firms’ dividend payout policy. Originality/value This study provides evidence on predictive consistency of payout policy of firms and its determination with the change in the external economic condition.

Does political instability influence dividend payout policy: evidence from Tunisian Stock Exchange?

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 253-267
Author(s):  
Nadia Loukil
Keyword(s):  
Dividend Policy ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Emerging Market ◽  
Political Instability ◽  
Payout Policy ◽  
Equity Capital ◽  
Dividend Payment ◽  
Dividend Payout ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Ruling Party

PurposeThe purpose of this study tests whether political instability influence financial decision-making behavior of Tunisian-listed firms, in particular dividend payout policy.Design/methodology/approachThis paper uses dividend payout decisions announced over the period 2008–2015 by nonfinancial firms listed on the Tunisian Stock Exchange. A logistic regression is applied to analyze the relationship between political instability and dividend payout decision “changes. These latter are: past non-payers” dividend initiation, past payers' dividend termination, dividend payout “increasing and dividend payout” decreasing. Political instability variables used are as follows: number of changes in government head and dummy variables indicating the changes of ruling party and election year.FindingsThis study shows that government head changes are positively related to dividend initiation decisions while changes in ruling party are negatively related to termination dividend decisions except for family controlled ones. These firms are more likely to stop dividend on period of ruling party changes. Moreover, firms become unwilling to increase dividend payment on the period of political instability (changes in ruling party and government head and elections) and become willing to decrease dividend payment only when the government head changes.Practical implicationsThe empirical findings contribute to the current debate on the signaling power of dividend policy in emerging market where raising equity capital is difficult and controlling shareholders prefer reinvest benefit to pay dividends. In addition, this study has important implications for regulators and governments struggling to design policies to improve investors' confidence and boost market activity. Indeed, investors may use corporate payout as a signal for better governance.Originality/valueTo the author' best knowledge, this paper is the first to investigate and to compare the effect of three political instability sources; government head changes, changes in ruling party and elections, on dividend payout decision changes. This paper provides evidence that firms facing political unstable environment seek to achieve two goals when they make dividend policy: reducing financial distress probability and attracting minority owners.

Dividend policy in India: reconciling theory and evidence

2020 ◽  
Vol 46 (11) ◽  
pp. 1437-1453
Author(s):  
Bipin Kumar Dixit ◽  
Nilesh Gupta ◽  
Suman Saurabh
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Dividend Policy ◽  
Indirect Evidence ◽  
Rate Of Change ◽  
Dividend Payment ◽  
Dividend Payout ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Life Cycle Theory ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Indian Data

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the dividend payout behavior of Indian firms and test whether the three prominent dividend policy theories (signaling, life-cycle and catering) explain the dividend policy of Indian firms.Design/methodology/approachThe authors test the three theories using the methodology based on the studies of Nissim and Ziv (2001), DeAngelo et al. (2006) and Baker and Wurgler (2004). For testing the signaling theory, the authors regress the change in earnings on the rate of change in dividends using the pooled and Fama–Macbeth regressions. The life cycle theory is tested by running a logistic regression of the dividend payment decision on two proxies of life-cycle measured by the ratio of earned to total equity. Finally, the catering theory tests the relationship between the decision to pay a dividend and the dividend premium.FindingsThe results based on a sample of Indian firms from 1992 to 2017 show that the dividend policy of Indian firms can be explained using the life-cycle theory. However, there is no evidence in support of the signaling and catering theories.Originality/valueIt provides insights into the dividend policy of Indian firms. Though there have been a few studies examining the dividend payout in India, none of the existing studies tests these theories of dividend payout. The existing research using the Indian data provides indirect evidence about the life-cycle theory. This study is the first one to test the application of these theories for Indian firms.

Impact of Dividend Tax Change on the Payout Policy of Indian Companies

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 1282-1291
Author(s):  
Sanjay Dhamija ◽  
Ravinder Kumar Arora
Keyword(s):  
Negative Impact ◽  
Payout Policy ◽  
Tax Law ◽  
Dividend Payout ◽  
Inside Ownership ◽  
Regulatory Changes ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Dividend Tax

The article examines the impact of regulatory changes in the tax on dividends on the payout policy of Indian companies. The tax law was recently amended to levy tax on dividends received by large shareholders. As the promoters group is the largest shareholder, this is expected to have a negative impact on the payout policy of companies. Furthermore, companies with larger promoter holdings have a higher motivation to reduce their payout. The study covers 370 companies present in the BSE 500 Index and compares the dividend payout of the companies before and after the introduction of tax levy. The study finds that the newly introduced tax indeed caused a shift in the dividend policy of companies, particularly those companies which have high levels of inside ownership. The findings have significant implications for companies, investors and the government.

The impact of board composition and ownership structure on dividend payout policy: evidence from Saudi Arabia

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Helmi A. Boshnak
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Ownership Structure ◽  
Dividend Policy ◽  
Payout Policy ◽  
Board Composition ◽  
Dividend Payout ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Listed Firms ◽  
Propensity To Pay ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThis study examines the impact of board composition and ownership structure variables on dividend payout policy in Saudi Arabian firms. In particular, it aims to determine the effect of board size, independence and meeting frequency, in addition to chief executive officer (CEO) duality, and state, institutional, managerial, family, and foreign ownership on both the propensity to pay dividends and dividend per share for Saudi-listed firms over the period 2016–2019.Design/methodology/approachThe paper captures dividend policy with two measures, propensity to pay dividends and dividend per share, and employs a range of regression methods (logistic, probit, ordinary least squares (OLS) and random effects regressions) along with a two-stage least squares (2SLS) model for robustness to account for heteroscedasticity, serial correlation and endogeneity issues. The data set is a large panel of 280 Saudi-listed firms over the period 2016 to 2019.FindingsThe results underline the importance of board composition and the ownership structure in explaining variations in dividend policy across Saudi firms. More specifically, there is a positive relationship between the propensity to pay dividends and board-meeting frequency, institutional ownership, firm profitability and firm age, while the degree of board independence, firm size and leverage exhibit a negative relation. Further, dividend per share is positively related to board meeting frequency, institutional ownership, foreign ownership, firm profitability and age, while it is negatively related to CEO duality, managerial ownership, and firm leverage. There is no evidence that family ownership exerts an impact on dividend payout policy in Saudi firms. The findings of this study support agency, signalling, substitute and outcome theories of dividend policy.Research limitations/implicationsThis study offers an important insight into the board characteristic and ownership structure drivers of dividend policy in the context of an emerging market. Moreover, the study has important implications for firms, managers, investors, policymakers, and regulators in Saudi Arabia.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the existing literature by providing evidence on four board and five ownership characteristic drivers of dividend policy in Saudi Arabia as an emerging stock market, thereby improving on less comprehensive previous studies. The study recommends that investors consider board composition and ownership structure characteristics of firms as key drivers of dividend policy when making stock investment decisions to inform them about the propensity of investee firms to pay dividends and maintain a given dividend policy.

scholarly journals Impact of Corporate Governance on Dividend Policy: Evidence from Pakistan

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 353-366
Author(s):  
Abdul Hameed ◽  
Farheen Zahra Hussain ◽  
Khawar Naheed ◽  
Muhammad Sadiq Shahid
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Dividend Policy ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Payout Policy ◽  
Least Square ◽  
Political Connection ◽  
Dividend Payment ◽  
The Impact

Purpose: The objective of the paper is to examine the impact of corporate governance on the dividend payout policy of firms listed on the Pakistan stock exchange during 2010-2020. As Pakistani investors face issues regarding their return in the shape of dividends and depend upon the firm’s corporate governance strength. To test whether changes in firm code of corporate governance have a significant influence on dividend policy. Design/Methodology/Approach: The panel data has been used for the period 2010-2020 and panel least square has been applied. Further, to test the association, following factors such delisting risk, government tenure, political connection with institutional shareholding as many political firms hold corporate shares which influence the decision to pay dividends. Findings: Findings from the fixed effect model show that corporate governance has a negative impact on dividend policy while government tenure, politically connected firm has a positive impact on the dividend. The study also concludes that firm size, profitability, tax, asset turnover, leverage, and firm shareholding also influence firm dividend payment behavior. Implications/Originality/Value: The implication of study reveals that firms must focus on strong their governance and include more independent directors on the board which leads to favorable strategies regarding investors. The investor must invest in those firm where lower political connection, pay continuous dividend either high or low decease/increase delisting chances, strong corporate governance and firm specific factors also lead to make decision of dividend payment.

scholarly journals PENGARUH KEBIJAKAN DEVIDEN TERHADAP LABA SATU TAHUN KE DEPAN

2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 125
Author(s):  
Temy Setiawan
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Order Theory ◽  
Earning Growth ◽  
Pecking Order Theory ◽  
Dividend Payment ◽  
Dividend Payout ◽  
Analysis Instrument ◽  
Accounting Report

<p><em>Earning growth is one of the company’s goals in accounting report. Dividend payment is assumed to have a link in the change of the profit in the following year. Pecking Order Theory revealed that a change in dividend will give a negative impact towards profit change. However, this statement contradicts to Zhou and Rulland’s research (2006) which showed that dividend payout has a positive impact towards profit change in the following year. This research is in accordance with signaling theory which describes that dividend is a reflection of a good performance from the company, thus, it will invite investors to increase their investment share. With the increase in the investment, the company is expected to expand and increase its profit.</em></p><p><em>The research is conducted in Indonesia towards all emitents in the manufactory sub sector by taking 95 research samples from companies that paid dividend in 2007, 2008,2009, and 2010. The research type is quantitative research with double regression analysis instrument. The dependent variable is the change of profit while the independent variable is dividend payout. Variable controls in this research are ROA, leverage, and size.The result of the research shows that dividend payout does not significantly influence the change of profit even though the number of co-efficient regression is positive. ROA and leverage variables significantly influence the change of profit while Size variable does not significantly influence it. In the maturity and stable level, the company will find it hard to increase the profit even though dividend payment is high.</em></p><p><strong><em>Keywords</em></strong><em>: Earning growth,Profit,  ROA, Leverage and Size.</em></p>

Litigation risk and payout policy

2020 ◽  
Vol 46 (11) ◽  
pp. 1391-1406
Author(s):  
James Malm ◽  
Srinidhi Kanuri
Keyword(s):  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Payout Policy ◽  
Business Community ◽  
Litigation Risk ◽  
Dividend Yield ◽  
Tobit Regression ◽  
Dividend Payout ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Regression Techniques ◽  
The Relationship

PurposeThe purpose of the paper is to examine the relationship between litigation risk and payout policy.Design/methodology/approachThe authors employ various regression techniques including probit, logit and tobit regression methodologies to study the relationship between litigation risk (contemporaneous measures, litigation dummy) and payout policy (dividend payout likelihood and dividend yield). The authors also conduct several robustness tests.FindingsThe authors find that firms involved in a lawsuit have a lower propensity to distribute dividends to shareholders. In particular, the authors document a negative relationship between litigation risk and payout policy as measured by dividend payout likelihood and dividend yield. The results are robust to a series of robustness tests including using alternate regression specifications, alternate measures of litigation and payout policy, a propensity-score matched sample and using an instrumental variable.Originality/valueThe paper identifies another determinant of payout policy and documents another avenue whereby legal institutions affect corporate payout policy. The link between litigation risk and payout policy is of interest to the business community, financial economists, management and the investing public.

Reporting of discontinued operations and dividend payout policy

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Binod Guragai ◽  
Trent Henke ◽  
Glen Young
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Payout Policy ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
Dividend Payout ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Prior Literature ◽  
Dividend Increases ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Discontinued Operations

Purpose This study aims to examine the relationship between the types of discontinued operations (i.e. income-increasing versus income-decreasing) and a firm’s dividend payout policy. The authors extend our analysis to examine whether equity investors react differently to dividend payout changes that are preceded by the reporting of different types of discontinued operations. Design/methodology/approach Ordinary least squares regressions are used to test the association between discontinued operations and dividend payouts. The investor response test uses cumulative abnormal return around the announcement of dividend payout changes. Findings The authors find that firms temporarily increase (decrease) their dividend payout in the quarter following the reporting of income-increasing (income-decreasing) discontinued operations. The authors further find that these results are stronger when the magnitude of the income increase or income decrease is larger and when firms report disposal gains or losses. Although prior literature finds evidence that dividend increases are associated with a significant positive market reaction, the results show that investors do not react positively to dividend increases that are preceded by reporting income-increasing discontinued operations. Originality/value This study adds to the literature on the effects of financial reporting (i.e. the types of discontinued operations) on a firm’s payout policy (i.e. dividend payout). The authors also add to the literature that examines investors’ perceptions of a firm’s payout changes when such changes are transitory in nature.

An exploration of violence against paramedics, burnout and post-traumatic symptoms in two Australian ambulance services

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 134-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nualnong Wongtongkam
Keyword(s):  
Negative Impact ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Public Attention ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Traumatic Symptoms

Purpose Violence directed at ambulance paramedics has attracted increasing public attention because of its major negative impact on the physical and psychological well-being of victims and productivity of organisations. The purpose of this paper is to explore the prevalence of violent incidents, contributing factors, burnout and post-traumatic symptoms among paramedics. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional survey was distributed in two ambulance services in Tasmania and South Australia, with self-administered instruments completed online. In total, 48 respondents completed questionnaires. Findings There were no significant differences between sites in timing of violent incidents, consequences of traumatic events or organisation provision. Surprisingly, over 90 per cent of paramedics had not been pushed, slapped, beaten, scratched or spat on in the previous month. There was a statistically significant difference between genders for being yelled at or verbally abused (p=0.02). When considering burnout, female paramedics showed significantly higher levels of emotional exhaustion t(37)=–2.32, p=0.02 and lower levels of career satisfaction than their male counterparts, t(37)=3.32, p=0.00. Originality/value Although prevalence rates of violent incidents seemed lower than expected, policy interventions to encourage female paramedics to display their professional identities and steps to enhance well-being and safety while on duty should be considered.

Corporate governance ratings and the dividend payout decisions of Australian corporate firms

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 162-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
Subba Reddy Yarram
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Random Effects ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Unobserved Heterogeneity ◽  
Agency Cost ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Governance Mechanisms ◽  
Dividend Payout ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Significant Positive Influence

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of corporate governance on the dividend payout decisions of Australian firms by considering two related objectives. First, it considers the role of corporate governance ratings (CGRs) on the decision to pay or not to pay dividends. Second, it considers the influence of CGRs on the average dividend payout level of Australian firms. Design/methodology/approach – The sample consists of 413 non-financial firms included in the All Ordinaries Index for the period 2004-2009. A logit model is employed to analyse the decision to pay or omit dividends. Similarly, tobit method is employed to analyse the factors influencing the dividend payout level of Australian firms. To control for unobserved heterogeneity, this study employs random effects panel logit and panel tobit models. Findings – This study finds that CGRs have a significant positive influence on the decision to pay dividends and on the average dividend payout level of Australian firms. Similarly, the present study finds support for signalling hypothesis as profitability has a significant positive influence and a loss dummy has a significant negative influence on the dividend payout decisions of Australian firms. The study also finds support for the life cycle hypothesis as growth opportunities have a significant negative impact on the average dividend payout level of Australian firms. This study finds no conclusive evidence of the existence of dividend tax clientele in Australia. Research limitations/implications – Dividends provide a complementary governance role consistent with the “outcomes model” of the agency cost theory as proposed by La Port et al. (2000). Practical implications – The findings have implications for corporate governance policies. Principle-based governance mechanisms work as well as the rule-based governance mechanisms in an environment characterized by high levels of investor protection and well-developed stock markets. Companies that are well governed may limit the opportunities for managers to expropriate shareholders and thus governance may reduce the contracting costs associated with compensation policies. Originality/value – This is the first study that examines the influence of governance on dividend policy using the CGRs developed by the WHK Horwath/University of Newcastle. Findings are robust and account for unobserved heterogeneity as random effects panel models are employed.

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