Which of the following statements is CORRECT?
A) Suppose a firm that has been earning $2 and paying a dividend of $1.00,or a 50% dividend payout,announces that it is increasing the dividend to $1.50.The stock price then jumps from $20 to $30.Some people would argue that this is proof that investors prefer dividends to retained earnings.Miller and Modigliani would agree with this argument.
B) Other things held constant,the higher a firm's target dividend payout ratio,the higher its expected growth rate should be.
C) Miller and Modigliani's dividend irrelevance theory says that the percentage of its earnings that a firm pays out in dividends has no effect on its cost of capital,but it does affect its stock price.
D) The federal government sometimes taxes dividends and capital gains at different rates.Other things held constant,an increase in the tax rate on dividends relative to that on capital gains would logically lead to a decrease in dividend payout ratios.
E) If investors prefer firms that retain most of their earnings,then a firm that wants to maximize its stock price should set a high dividend payout ratio.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Miller and Modigliani's dividend irrelevance theory posits that dividend policy has no effect on the value of a firm or its stock price, contradicting options A and C. Option B is incorrect because a higher dividend payout ratio generally implies lower retained earnings, potentially reducing growth. Option E is incorrect because if investors prefer retained earnings, a firm should lower its dividend payout ratio to maximize stock price. Option D is correct because changes in tax rates on dividends vs. capital gains can influence investor preference and corporate dividend policies.

Which of the Following Statements Is CORRECT