Profitability versus cash flow: which is a better determinant of dividends per share

The objective of this study was to determine which determinant is the better determinant for dividends in the KLCI, Profitability or Cash flow? This study identified the two schools of thought that attempts to explain how dividends are determined: Profitability is a Signalling Theory Proponent, and...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Teo, Levi
Format: Dissertation (University of Nottingham only)
Language:English
Published: 2018
Online Access:https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/54323/
_version_ 1848799037170384896
author Teo, Levi
author_facet Teo, Levi
author_sort Teo, Levi
building Nottingham Research Data Repository
collection Online Access
description The objective of this study was to determine which determinant is the better determinant for dividends in the KLCI, Profitability or Cash flow? This study identified the two schools of thought that attempts to explain how dividends are determined: Profitability is a Signalling Theory Proponent, and Liquidity is an Agency Cost Theory Proponent. This report explores from the literature on theories can be used for this study, mainly the Modigliani and Miller theory of Irrelevance of Dividends, and other school of thoughts. Data of the 30 Firms in the KLCI were collected, with data ranging from fiscal year 2006 until fiscal year 2015. The data is analysed using Panel Analysis with Pooled Regression, Fixed Effect, and Random Effects. A robustness test was conducted by removing Bank from the sample and analysed using Panel Analysis. The main finding in the results is Profitability (ROA) is significant and positive determinant of Dividends, whilst Liquidity or Cash Flow (both Free Cash Flow and Operating Cash Flow) is not significant. This shows that Signalling theory is a reliable theory to determine Dividends in the KLCI whilst Agency Cost is not reliable theory to determine Dividends in the KLCI. The result answers the objective of this study, that Profitability is the best determinant of dividends of large capitalization firms in the KLCI. An additional finding was discovered in the analysis: Expensiveness of stocks or Market-To-Book Ratio (MBR) is a reliable and significant positive determinant of dividends in the KLCI. The robustness test produced similar results: profitability is a positive determinant and cash flow is not determinant.
first_indexed 2025-11-14T20:29:17Z
format Dissertation (University of Nottingham only)
id nottingham-54323
institution University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus
institution_category Local University
language English
last_indexed 2025-11-14T20:29:17Z
publishDate 2018
recordtype eprints
repository_type Digital Repository
spelling nottingham-543232019-02-08T13:00:45Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/54323/ Profitability versus cash flow: which is a better determinant of dividends per share Teo, Levi The objective of this study was to determine which determinant is the better determinant for dividends in the KLCI, Profitability or Cash flow? This study identified the two schools of thought that attempts to explain how dividends are determined: Profitability is a Signalling Theory Proponent, and Liquidity is an Agency Cost Theory Proponent. This report explores from the literature on theories can be used for this study, mainly the Modigliani and Miller theory of Irrelevance of Dividends, and other school of thoughts. Data of the 30 Firms in the KLCI were collected, with data ranging from fiscal year 2006 until fiscal year 2015. The data is analysed using Panel Analysis with Pooled Regression, Fixed Effect, and Random Effects. A robustness test was conducted by removing Bank from the sample and analysed using Panel Analysis. The main finding in the results is Profitability (ROA) is significant and positive determinant of Dividends, whilst Liquidity or Cash Flow (both Free Cash Flow and Operating Cash Flow) is not significant. This shows that Signalling theory is a reliable theory to determine Dividends in the KLCI whilst Agency Cost is not reliable theory to determine Dividends in the KLCI. The result answers the objective of this study, that Profitability is the best determinant of dividends of large capitalization firms in the KLCI. An additional finding was discovered in the analysis: Expensiveness of stocks or Market-To-Book Ratio (MBR) is a reliable and significant positive determinant of dividends in the KLCI. The robustness test produced similar results: profitability is a positive determinant and cash flow is not determinant. 2018-02-24 Dissertation (University of Nottingham only) NonPeerReviewed application/pdf en https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/54323/1/54323-Levi%20Teo.pdf Teo, Levi (2018) Profitability versus cash flow: which is a better determinant of dividends per share. [Dissertation (University of Nottingham only)]
spellingShingle Teo, Levi
Profitability versus cash flow: which is a better determinant of dividends per share
title Profitability versus cash flow: which is a better determinant of dividends per share
title_full Profitability versus cash flow: which is a better determinant of dividends per share
title_fullStr Profitability versus cash flow: which is a better determinant of dividends per share
title_full_unstemmed Profitability versus cash flow: which is a better determinant of dividends per share
title_short Profitability versus cash flow: which is a better determinant of dividends per share
title_sort profitability versus cash flow: which is a better determinant of dividends per share
url https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/54323/