Explanatory factors of bank dividend policy: revisited

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dickens et al. model of bank holding company dividend policy. They identified five explanatory factors in a sample of bank holding companies (BHCs). Banking companies typically pay larger dividends and more often than industrial firms. Investors often look at the dividends as being important return variables.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, a sample of 99 firms with 2006 data from governmental reports and Yahoo is used in regression equations to test the relationship of the five identified variables with dividend yields. The analysis is extended to investigate non‐linearities between dividend yield and insider ownership.

Findings

The paper finds that the original model is robust, but not all variables keep their significance. Insider holdings have a non‐linear relationship with dividend yields.

Practical implications

The significant factors affecting bank dividend policy help dividend seeking investors find BHCs that return higher dividend yields.

Originality/value

This paper reveals a non‐linear link between insider holdings and dividend yields among BHCs.

Citation

Theis, J. and Dutta, A.S. (2009), "Explanatory factors of bank dividend policy: revisited", Managerial Finance, Vol. 35 No. 6, pp. 501-508. https://doi.org/10.1108/03074350910956963