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What is the relation between financial flexibility and dividend smoothing?

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  • Fliers, Philip T.

Abstract

This paper investigates the relation between financial flexibility and dividend smoothing policies. We use two proxies for financial flexibility; we measure levels of unused debt capacity and capital structure adjustment speeds. We find a nonlinear relation between unused debt capacity and dividend smoothing. For firms with high levels of unused debt capacity, this relation is positive. However, we find a negative effect for firms with low levels of unused debt capacity. Additionally, we show a positive relation between capital structure adjustment speeds and dividend smoothing. We find that firms absorb shocks to net income by changing their capital structure, and this change enables dividend smoothing. The effects we document are stronger for positive changes to a firm’s net income.

Suggested Citation

  • Fliers, Philip T., 2019. "What is the relation between financial flexibility and dividend smoothing?," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 98-111.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jimfin:v:92:y:2019:i:c:p:98-111
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jimonfin.2018.12.009
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    3. Anshu Agrawal, 2020. "Modified Total Interpretive Structural Model of Corporate Financial Flexibility," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 21(4), pages 369-388, December.
    4. Eugen-Axel Mihancea & Marilen-Gabriel Pirtea & Florin-Claudiu Boțoc, 2021. "Bibliometric Analysis on the Recent Trends in Dividend Policy Research," Ovidius University Annals, Economic Sciences Series, Ovidius University of Constantza, Faculty of Economic Sciences, vol. 0(2), pages 1051-1059, December.
    5. Nie, Jing & Yin, Libo, 2022. "Do dividends signal safety? Evidence from China," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    6. 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).
    7. Tahir, Muhammad & Ibrahim, Haslindar & Zulkafli, Abdul Hadi & Mushtaq, Muhammad, 2020. "Corruption, national culture, law and dividend repatriation policy," Journal of Multinational Financial Management, Elsevier, vol. 57.
    8. Basse, Tobias & Klein, Tony & Vigne, Samuel A. & Wegener, Christoph, 2021. "U.S. stock prices and the dot.com-bubble: Can dividend policy rescue the efficient market hypothesis?," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    9. Wu, Ming & Ohk, Kiyool & Ko, Kwangsoo, 2021. "Does cash-flow news play a better role than discount-rate news? Evidence from global regional stock markets," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    10. Sharier Azim Khan, 2021. "Leverage target and payout policy," Journal of Financial Research, Southern Finance Association;Southwestern Finance Association, vol. 44(1), pages 53-79, April.
    11. Richard Arhinful & Leviticus Mensah & Halkawt Ismail Mohammed Amin & Hayford Asare Obeng, 2024. "The influence of cost of debt, cost of equity and weighted average cost of capital on dividend policy decision: evidence from non-financial companies listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange," Future Business Journal, Springer, vol. 10(1), pages 1-24, December.
    12. Jingjing Qian & Chao Chen & Yun Zhong, 2022. "Environmental Regulation and Sustainable Growth of Enterprise Value: Mediating Effect Analysis Based on Technological Innovation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-16, October.
    13. Dong, Longxu & Zhang, Haomin & Huang, Yongjian, 2024. "Dual-class share structure and dividend smoothing," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Dividend smoothing; Capital structure; Financial flexibility; Debt capacity; Lintner; Partial adjustment models;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G35 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Payout Policy

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