Determinants of dividend policy of South Korean listed firms

Dividend policy continues to be a much debated research topic ever since the seminal works of John Lintner (1956), and Miller and Modigliani (1961). Among the many answered questions, doubt continues to remain on the specific factors that determine dividend policy and whether dividend policy can be structured dependently or independently. The aim of this study is to investigate the determinants of dividend payout policy on the South Korean firms listed on the South Korean Stock Exchange (KRX). In this study, five variables are considered as potential determinants of dividend payout policy. The study develops five research hypotheses, which are used to represent the main theories of corporate dividend payouts. Fixed effect regression model was applied on a sample of thirty listed companies on South Korean Stock Exchange for the period of four years from 2014 to 2017. The model was chosen to test the relationship between dividend determinants and dividend payout policy. The study hopes to potentially increase knowledge in the area of dividend payout policy with a view to improve prediction and establish a relationship between dividend determinants and dividend payout of South Korean firms.

A CRITICAL REVIEW OF COMPANY PERFORMANCE IN RESPONSE TO DIVIDEND PAYOUT POLICY IN THE PERSPECTIVE OF PAKISTAN

The current study explains the relationship of dividend payout policy on the business performance of companies that exist in sugar of Pakistan. 100 companies are selected from sugar sector. Relationship of dividend payout policy and business performance was controlled with four variables based on relevant theories. These variables include size of company, growth of company, leverage (debt to equity ratio) and corporate governance index. Panel data is collected from 2012-2017 (six years) and then analyzed with unit root, descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, OLS regression, Lagrange multiplier, Huasman test, Fixed effect and Random effect models. Following key findings for each research objective were obtained by applying the adopted research method on the data through the adopted method of analyses: The results of the study show sugar companies showed no sign of a relationship between their dividend payout policy and profitability and so there is no controlling factor effective due to the absence of any relationship. Thus, the hypotheses were rejected in case of these two industries. Key Words: Company Performance, Dividend Policy, Tobin’s Q, Size, Growth, Leverage, Corporate Governance Index, Dividend Payout

Behavior of Company Performance in Response to Dividend Policy: An Analysis of Textile Sector Listed in Pakistan Stock Exchange

The current study explains the relationship of dividend payout policy on the business performance of companies that exist in textile of Pakistan. 100 companies are selected from textile sector. Relationship of dividend payout policy and business performance was controlled with four variables based on relevant theories. These variables include size of company, growth of company, leverage (debt to equity ratio) and corporate governance index. Panel data is collected from 2012-2017 (six years) and then analyzed with unit root, descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, OLS regression, Lagrange multiplier, Huasman test, Fixed effect and Random effect models. Following key findings for each research objective were obtained by applying the adopted research method on the data through the adopted method of analyses: The results of the study show that in textile companies, a negative relationship occurs between dividend payout policy and their profitability. Furthermore, size of the firm according to the pecking order theory and leverage as per the agency cost theory came out to have a significant controlling effect on this negative relationship.

Reporting of discontinued operations and dividend payout policy

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.

oard Composition, Ownership Structure and Dividend Payout Policy: Evidence from PSX-100 Index of Pakistan

The purpose of this study is to analyze the influence of board composition, ownership structure on dividend payout policy. Ordinary Least Square and Logistic regression models were applied to test the estimation in Pakistani KSE 100-index firms for the period of 2005 to 2014. Corporate Governance (board composition and ownership structure) were taken as independent variables, dividend payout / dividend decision as dependent variables. It is ascertained that the board size, executive director, institutional, foreign ownership and return on equity are significantly influenced on dividend payout /decision. Over study results evidenced that those firms who have higher profitable provide signal to the market to pay higher dividend in Pakistani firms and intended to resolve the agency problems issues.

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

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.

Impact of Corporate Governance on Dividend Policy: Evidence from Pakistan

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.

Bidirectional Relationship between Firm Performance and Dividend Payout Policy: A Study of Chemical Sector in Emerging Economies in Pakistan

The study explains the relationship of dividend payout policy on the business performance of companies that exist in Chemical of Pakistan. 100 companies are selected from Chemical sector. Relationship of dividend payout policy and business performance was controlled with four variables based on relevant theories. These variables include size of company, growth of company, leverage (debt to equity ratio) and corporate governance index. Panel data is collected from 2012-2017 (six years) and then analyzed with unit root, descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, OLS regression, Lagrange multiplier, Huasman test, Fixed effect and Random effect models. Following key findings for each research objective were obtained by applying the adopted research method on the data through the adopted method of analyses: The results showed that the no sign of a relationship between their dividend payout policy and profitability and so there is no controlling factor effective due to the absence of any relationship. Thus, the hypotheses were rejected.