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The Differences Between Stock Splits and Stock Dividends: Evidence on the Retained Earnings Hypothesis

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  • Ken L. Bechmann
  • Johannes Raaballe

Abstract

This paper investigates stock dividends and stock splits on the Copenhagen Stock Exchange (CSE), which is of interest because several of the more recent explanations for a stock market reaction can be ruled out. The main findings are that the announcement effect of stock dividends as well as stock splits is closely related to changes in a firm's payout policy, but that the relationship differs for the two types of events. A stock dividend implies an increase in nominal share capital and hence a decrease in retained earnings. Firms announcing stock dividends finance growth entirely by debt (explaining the need for an increase in nominal share capital) and retained earnings. Basically all firms announcing a stock dividend with a split factor of less than two can also afford to increase their total cash dividends permanently, at least proportionally to the increase in share capital, leading to a significant announcement effect of 4.23%. Firms announcing a stock dividend with a split factor of two or more also increase total cash dividends permanently, but less than proportionally to the increase in share capital. This leads to an insignificant announcement effect of 0.08%. These findings support a retained earnings/signaling hypothesis. For stock splits, no separate announcement effect was found when a firm's payout policy was controlled for. This lends support to the idea that a stock split per se is a cosmetic event on the CSE and is also consistent with the fact that making a stock split on the CSE is virtually cost free.

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  • Ken L. Bechmann & Johannes Raaballe, 2007. "The Differences Between Stock Splits and Stock Dividends: Evidence on the Retained Earnings Hypothesis," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(3‐4), pages 574-604, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jbfnac:v:34:y:2007:i:3-4:p:574-604
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-5957.2007.02041.x
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    3. Khamis H. Al-Yahyaee, 2014. "Frequency and Motives for Stock Dividends in a Unique Environment," International Review of Finance, International Review of Finance Ltd., vol. 14(2), pages 295-318, June.
    4. Leledakis, George N. & Papaioannou, George J. & Travlos, Nickolaos G. & Tsangarakis, Nickolaos V., 2009. "Stock splits in a neutral transaction cost environment: Evidence from the Athens Stock Exchange," Journal of Multinational Financial Management, Elsevier, vol. 19(1), pages 12-25, February.
    5. Osama Abd ElKhalek El Ansary & Mervat Hussien El-Azab, 2017. "The Impact of Stock Dividends and Stock Splits on Shares’ Prices: Evidence from Egypt," Accounting and Finance Research, Sciedu Press, vol. 6(4), pages 1-96, Novebmer.
    6. Feito-Ruiz, Isabel & Renneboog, Luc & Vansteenkiste, Cara, 2020. "Elective stock and scrip dividends," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    7. Cahit Adaoglu & Meziane Lasfer, 2011. "Why Do Companies Pay Stock Dividends? The Case of Bonus Distributions in an Inflationary Environment," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(5-6), pages 601-627, June.
    8. Ed-Dafali, Slimane & Patel, Ritesh & Iqbal, Najaf, 2023. "A bibliometric review of dividend policy literature," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    9. Al-Yahyaee, Khamis Hamed, 2014. "Shareholder wealth effects of stock dividends in a unique environment," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 28(C), pages 66-81.
    10. Hicham Sbai & Slimane Ed-Dafali & Hicham Meghouar & Muhammad Mohiuddin, 2024. "Ownership Structure and Bank Dividend Policies: New Empirical Evidence from the Dual Banking Systems of MENA Countries," IJFS, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-20, June.
    11. Andreas Charitou, 2007. "Discussion of The Differences Between Stock Splits and Stock Dividends: Evidence on the Retained Earnings Hypothesis," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(3‐4), pages 605-612, April.
    12. Mohammad Shahidul Islam & ATM Adnan, 2022. "Determinant Factors of Dividend Policy Using a Structural Equation Modeling Approach: A Study of the Banking Sector of Bangladesh," Oblik i finansi, Institute of Accounting and Finance, issue 1, pages 49-58, March.

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