Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/173027 
Year of Publication: 
2017
Series/Report no.: 
CESifo Working Paper No. 6751
Publisher: 
Center for Economic Studies and ifo Institute (CESifo), Munich
Abstract: 
Contrary to the central prediction of signaling models, changes in profits do not empirically follow changes in dividends. We show both theoretically and empirically that dividends signal safer, rather than higher, future profits. Using the Campbell (1991) decomposition, we are able to estimate expected cash flows from data on stock returns. Consistent with our model’s predictions, cash-flow volatility changes in the opposite direction from that of dividend changes and larger changes in volatility come with larger announcement returns. We find similar results for share repurchases. Crucially, the data supports the prediction - unique to our model - that the cost of the signal is foregone investment opportunities. We conclude that payout policy conveys information about future cash flow volatility. Our methodology can be applied more generally to overcoming empirical problems in testing theories of corporate financing.
Subjects: 
dividends
payout policy
cash flow volatility
signaling model
JEL: 
G35
Document Type: 
Working Paper
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