Large dividend increases and leverage
Journal
Journal of Corporate Finance
Subject
Finance
Publishing details
Authors / Editors
Cooper I;Lambertides N
Biographies
Publication Year
2018
Abstract
This study documents the fact that large dividend increases are followed by a significant increase in leverage, consistent with management increasing the dividend to use up excess debt capacity. However, the leverage increase is not captured by a standard partial adjustment model of leverage. Nor does it reflect variables known to be related to dividend increases, such as firm maturity, investment, and risk. Instead, the dividend increase signals a complex change in the way firms adjust to their leverage target, but it does not signal a change in the target.
Keywords
Capital structure; Dividend policy; Dividend changes; Leverage
Available on ECCH
No