Company reputation and dividend payout
ISSN: 2049-372X
Article publication date: 23 September 2024
Issue publication date: 15 November 2024
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the association between company reputation and dividend policy.
Design/methodology/approach
In this study, sample of 98,809 firm-year observations from 22 countries covering 2005–2016 were used.
Findings
Firm reputation concerns are associated with higher propensities to pay dividends and payout ratios. Further, this positive effect is more pronounced for firms with high free cash flows, high information asymmetry and low institutional monitoring. The results are robust to an instrumental variable approach, propensity score matching and the Heckman two-stage correction approach while addressing endogeneity concerns.
Practical implications
These findings have significant implications for various stakeholders, such as existing and potential investors, managers, policymakers and regulators, by providing insights into the relationship between corporate reputation and firm dividend payout decisions. Corporate reputation is highlighted as crucial for accessing finance, emphasizing the role of national regulators and policymakers in facilitating firms' efforts to improve their reputation. The study highlights the dynamics of corporate reputation and dividend payout, calling for proactive engagement from regulators and policymakers. Crafting policies conducive to reputation-building can enhance firms' financial prospects, indicating the need for strategic interventions at managerial, regulatory and policy levels. Understanding the influence of economic context is crucial for firms to tailor reputation management strategies and optimize funding opportunities in different economic environments.
Originality/value
Overall, results suggest that reputation serves as a disciplining mechanism, where firms will pay dividends to maintain their reputations.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors appreciate comments on earlier version of the paper from conference participants at Financial Markets and Corporate Governance conference-2020, La Trobe University, Australia. The authors are grateful for the comments made by the participants at the Albany School of Accountancy Seminar, School of Accountancy, Massey Business School, Massey University, New Zealand. The authors gratefully acknowledge the Victoria Business School, Victoria University of Wellington, for financial support through the VUW Summer Scholars Scheme 2017–2018.
Citation
Houqe, M.N., Michael, M., Ali, M.J. and Rahman, D. (2024), "Company reputation and dividend payout", Meditari Accountancy Research, Vol. 32 No. 6, pp. 2261-2297. https://doi.org/10.1108/MEDAR-12-2023-2249
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2024, Emerald Publishing Limited