The Evolving Relation Between Dividends and Flexible Payouts: A Different Evolution
52 Pages Posted: 5 Mar 2019 Last revised: 28 Sep 2020
Date Written: September 1, 2020
Abstract
We study payout by U.K. listed companies during 1993-2018. Regular dividends remain the dominant channel, but flexible payouts (special dividends and repurchases) have grown, and they make total payout more responsive to earnings. Flexible payouts are used to augment regular dividends: few companies pay out by flexible means only, and tests indicate that they augment rather than replace regular dividends. Comparison with U.S. evidence shows that U.K. companies make greater use of dividends (including specials) in relation to repurchases, and have a greater willingness to change regular dividend per share.
Keywords: Payout Policy, Dividends, Special Dividends, Repurchases
JEL Classification: G35
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation