90 likes | 199 Views
Intro to Financial Management. Dividend Policy. Review. Homework Income stream risks Business risks Operating risk Break-even analysis Operating leverage Capital structure Leverage Coverage ratio Match maturity of financing with ‘maturity’ of asset. Dividend Policy.
E N D
Intro to Financial Management Dividend Policy
Review • Homework • Income stream risks • Business risks • Operating risk • Break-even analysis • Operating leverage • Capital structure • Leverage • Coverage ratio • Match maturity of financing with ‘maturity’ of asset
Dividend Policy • Dividend payout ratio = dividend per share / earnings per share • Tradeoff between • Dividends and future growth • Dividends and external financing
Dividend Policy and Stock Price • Three views • No effect • High dividend will increase the stock price Reason – less risk to investor • Low dividend will increase the stock price Reason – investors can defer taxes
Dividend Payment Theories • Residual Dividend Theory • Pay dividend only if no more investments to make with the cash • Clientele Effect • Those who want dividends, will invest in dividend paying stocks • Those that don’t, won’t • Information Effect • Dividend payout changes can signal information from the firm • Agency Costs • Costs, such as reduced stock price, due to agency conflict • Dividends may reduce these costs • Expectations Theory • Market reacts as reality changes relative to their expectations
Dividends in Practice • Legal restrictions • E.g. must have assets > liabilities • Liquidity constraints • May not have the cash • Earnings predictability • Future years may not have as good cash flows • Maintaining Ownership Control • May retain earnings so do not have to issue new stock
Dividend Policies • Constant dividend payout ratio • Percent of earning paid is constant • Dollar amount will not be • Stable dollar dividend • Relatively stable (constant) payout • Will change only when management thinks appropriate • Small regular dividend plus year-end extra • One-time dividend payout
Stock Dividend and Stock Splits • Stock dividend • Distribution of shares proportionate to current holding • Stock split • Exchange current shares for new, more shares • Same effect, different accounting • Why? • Optimal trading range, perhaps • Signal information, perhaps
Stock Repurchases • When firm buys back its stock from the market • Why? • Reduces shares on the market • Increases EPS, ROE • Increases leverage • Reduces costs of small (e.g. fractional) shareholders • Result, higher stock price • What should a firm do with excess cash?Give dividends or repurchase shares? • Want long-term gain or cash now? • Theoretically, owners should not care • Note that Apple is doing both