The impact of dividend reduction on shareholders wealth: evidence from Australia

Abstract

This study examines the stock price reactions to interim and final dividend reductions in Australia. We find that the market reacts more negatively to interim dividend reductions than final dividend reductions consistent with the view that market participants anticipate deterioration in profitability of firms that eventually announce interim dividend reductions. We find that size of the dividend reduction depends on the riskiness of the firm (idiosyncratic risk), size of the firm prior year profitability and changes in the profitability. We also find that reduce dividend at the interim level rather than delay to final stage depends on the prior year profitability and size of the firm.