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Corporate dividend policy in the time of COVID-19: Evidence from the G-12 countries

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  • Ali, Heba

Abstract

This paper examines how the COVID-19 pandemic affects corporate dividend policy. Utilizing a sample of 8889 firms listed in the G-12 countries, the findings show that although the proportion of dividend cuts and omissions is significantly higher during the pandemic, yet the majority of firms could either maintain or increase dividends. By doing so, firms might aim to purse more stable dividend policies and signal their financial prospects during the crisis, as posited by dividend signaling theory. Logit regression findings reveal that firm profitability, earnings prospects, size and leverage appear to be important determinants of dividend policy decisions during the pandemic.

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  • Ali, Heba, 2022. "Corporate dividend policy in the time of COVID-19: Evidence from the G-12 countries," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 46(PB).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:46:y:2022:i:pb:s1544612321004694
    DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2021.102493
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Zouhair Boumlik & Badia Oulhadj & Olivier Colot, 2023. "The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Corporate Dividend Policy of Moroccan Listed Firms," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-17, July.
    3. Reda Louziri & Khadija Oubal, 2022. "Determinants of Dividend Policy: The Case of the Casablanca Stock Exchange," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-19, November.
    4. Ntantamis, Christos & Zhou, Jun, 2022. "Corporate payout, cash holdings, and the COVID-19 crisis: Evidence from the G-7 countries," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 50(C).
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    6. Wang, Jiaxin & Cheng, Ruonan & Huang, Yong & Yan, Chao, 2023. "The pre-IPO dividend and IPO underpricing: Evidence from China," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    COVID-19; Dividends policy; Signaling theory; Agency theory; G-12;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G1 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets
    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance
    • G35 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Payout Policy

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