Modigliani & Miller show that dividend policy can also be considered irrelevant. Yet, unexpected increases in dividends are often closely followed by price increases, why? To clarify, when a firm pays a dividend the stock price should drop by the amount of the dividend on the ex-dividend date. Let's say a firm has 5 stockholders, each holding 1 share. The firm owns $2,000 in cash and $3,000 in other assets. So the firm is worth $5,000 (it owes no debt). Each stockholder's claim is worth: $5,000/5 = $1000. Now the firm declares a dividend of $100/share. They must pay out a total of: $100 x 5shares = $500. So after the dividend is paid the firm now has $1,500 in cash and $3,000 in other assets, for a total of $4,500. Dividing this by 5 stockholders, we find that each stockholders claim is $900. The same as if we take $1,000 less $100 dividend to get $900. The stockholder hasn't lost anything, he still has $1,000 in value, just $900 in the firm and $100 in cash now. But what we actually often see in practice is: Let’s say the firm was expected to pay a $100/share dividend, but instead pays a dividend of $110. Like the example above, we would expect to see the stockholder's value fall to $890 ($1,000 - $110 = $890). Again, the stockholder still has $1,000; $890 in the firm and $110 in cash. In practice though, we see that instead of the stock dropping to $890, it falls to say, only $895. Thus the stockholder's value is now; $110 + $895 = $1,005. Why did they gain $5 in value, just by issuing the dividend?
Dividend Valuation
Dividend refers to a reward or cash that a company gives to its shareholders out of the profits. Dividends can be issued in various forms such as cash payment, stocks, or in any other form as per the company norms. It is usually a part of the profit that the company shares with its shareholders.
Dividend Discount Model
Dividend payments are generally paid to investors or shareholders of a company when the company earns profit for the year, thus representing growth. The dividend discount model is an important method used to forecast the price of a company’s stock. It is based on the computation methodology that the present value of all its future dividends is equivalent to the value of the company.
Capital Gains Yield
It may be referred to as the earnings generated on an investment over a particular period of time. It is generally expressed as a percentage and includes some dividends or interest earned by holding a particular security. Cases, where it is higher normally, indicate the higher income and lower risk. It is mostly computed on an annual basis and is different from the total return on investment. In case it becomes too high, indicates that either the stock prices are going down or the company is paying higher dividends.
Stock Valuation
In simple words, stock valuation is a tool to calculate the current price, or value, of a company. It is used to not only calculate the value of the company but help an investor decide if they want to buy, sell or hold a company's stocks.
Modigliani & Miller show that dividend policy can also be considered irrelevant. Yet, unexpected increases in dividends are often closely followed by price increases, why?
To clarify, when a firm pays a dividend the stock price should drop by the amount of the dividend on the ex-dividend date. Let's say a firm has 5 stockholders, each holding 1 share. The firm owns $2,000 in cash and $3,000 in other assets. So the firm is worth $5,000 (it owes no debt). Each stockholder's claim is worth:
$5,000/5 = $1000.
Now the firm declares a dividend of $100/share. They must pay out a total of: $100 x 5shares = $500. So after the dividend is paid the firm now has $1,500 in cash and $3,000 in other assets, for a total of $4,500. Dividing this by 5 stockholders, we find that each stockholders claim is $900. The same as if we take $1,000 less $100 dividend to get $900. The stockholder hasn't lost anything, he still has $1,000 in value, just $900 in the firm and $100 in cash now.
But what we actually often see in practice is:
Let’s say the firm was expected to pay a $100/share dividend, but instead pays a dividend of $110. Like the example above, we would expect to see the stockholder's value fall to $890 ($1,000 - $110 = $890). Again, the stockholder still has $1,000; $890 in the firm and $110 in cash. In practice though, we see that instead of the stock dropping to $890, it falls to say, only $895. Thus the stockholder's value is now; $110 + $895 = $1,005.
Why did they gain $5 in value, just by issuing the dividend?
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