Dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the Requirement for the MSc in Finance FINANCE DISSERTATION ON Effects of dividend policy on stock price volatility: Evidence from Viet Nam TRINH QUANG HUY ID No: 22080941 Intake 6 Supervisor: Prof. Pham Duc Cuong September 2022 1 Acknowledgement I would like to express my deepest gratitude and appreciation to Prof. Pham Duc Cuong for his invaluable guidance, support, and expertise throughout the process of writing this dissertation. His extensive knowledge and passion for research have been instrumental in shaping and refining the study on the effects of dividend policy on stock price volatility in the context of Vietnam.
His mentorship and insightful feedback have greatly improved the quality and depth of this dissertation. This research would not have been possible without the support and guidance of him. 2 Table of Contents 1. Literature review and theoretical framework.
Dividend definition and dividend policy. Approaches to dividend policies. Stable Dividend Policy. Constant Dividend Policy.
Residual Dividend Policy. Theoretical framework: Relevant dividend theories. Dividend irrelevance theory (MM Theorem). Agency cost theory.
Bird in hand theory. The dividend puzzle. Variables definition and measurements. Data sources and collection.
Result of analysis. Multiple regression result. Topic Background Firm’s dividend policies have always been one the main factors that are thoroughly examined by investors, before they enter an investing deal. In fact, many researchers have shown their interest in this topic for almost a century, dating back since the early 50s.
The common sense of most investors would be that dividend payout means the company still functions well and they have great prospects in the future; hence, the stock price is expected to rise higher and higher. Is that really the case? This topic has long been a subject of interest for researchers and practitioners in the field of finance, and it is still controversial up to this day, whether dividends have any impact on firm’s value or not. Dividend policy decisions, which involve the distribution of earnings to shareholders, have the potential to impact share price movements and market volatility. Understanding the dynamics of this relationship is crucial for investors, policymakers, and corporate managers seeking to optimize their financial decision-making.
This study aims to provide an overview of the relationship between dividend policy and share price volatility, with a specific focus on the context of Vietnam. Vietnamese financial market in general, and the stock market in specific, have experienced significant growth and development in recent years, along with its economy, attracting both domestic and international investors, especially within the last few years. According to the Vietnamese Ministry of Finance (2020), the percentage of foreign investors invested in the Vietnamese stock market increased 11.6% in 2019, compared to 2018. In the bond market, the foreign investors bought more than 591.5 million USD worth of bond.
The country's evolving financial background as well as high potential, combined with unique economic factors and cultural influences, requires a specific examination of the relationship between dividend 5 policy and share price volatility in the nation’s context. Vietnamese companies have traditionally displayed a preference for dividend payments, driven by cultural expectations and the desire to reward shareholders. While dividend payout ratios have been relatively high, there has been limited empirical research on the impact of dividend policy on share price volatility in Vietnam. This study aims to bridge that gap by exploring the factors that influence dividend policy decisions and their subsequent effects on share price volatility.
Several factors shape dividend policy decisions in Vietnam. Firstly, the legal and regulatory framework plays a crucial role. The Vietnamese government has implemented policies to encourage dividend payments, including tax incentives and regulations promoting transparency and corporate governance. These factors can influence the dividend payout ratios and, subsequently, share price volatility.
To be more specific, a well-structured legal framework offers a sense of secure to the investors, as well as forcing corporations to be well-behaved, minimizing ethnicity problem within firms and on the market; hence, the share price would become more stable. Secondly, the financial characteristics of Vietnamese firms are important considerations. Factors such as profitability, cash flow generation, and capital structure can most likely impact dividend policy choices. Firms with stable earnings and cash flows may be more inclined to pay dividends, while those with growth opportunities or high leverage may prioritize reinvestment of earnings.
The interactions between these financial factors and share price volatility requires careful examination. Thirdly, investor preferences and market expectations also contribute to dividend policy decisions. Vietnamese investors traditionally value dividend income and stability, which may influence companies to adopt a more generous dividend policy. However, these preferences seem to be changing in the last few years, as more and more investors prefer taking more risks, in exchange for high and fast returns, companies should definitely take this 6 into serious consideration.
Changes in investor sentiment and market conditions can influence share price movements and subsequent volatility. Research Objectives The primary objective of this study is to examine the relationship between dividend policies and share price volatility in the Vietnamese HOSE market. Specifically, the research aims to achieve the following objectives: - To analyze the impact of dividend payout on share price volatility: This objective seeks to investigate the relationship between dividend payout ratios and the volatility of share prices in the Vietnamese market. By examining the historical data of 120 companies listed on the HOSE, the study aims to determine whether higher dividend payout ratios lead to lower levels of share price volatility.
- To assess the influence of dividend yield on share price volatility: This objective aims to explore the relationship between dividend yield and share price volatility in the Vietnamese context. The study will analyze whether companies with higher dividend yields experience reduced levels of share price volatility, indicating the potential role of dividend yield as a stabilizing factor in stock prices. - To utilize the multiple least square method for regression analysis for research purpose: The research objective involves employing the multiple least square method to estimate regression models. By utilizing this statistical technique, the study aims to capture the simultaneous impact of dividend payout and dividend yield on share price volatility, controlling for other relevant variables.
- To provide insights into the implications for investors and managers: This objective focuses on the practical implications of the research findings. By investigating the relationship between dividend policies and share price volatility, the study aims to offer valuable insights for 7 investors in the Vietnamese market, assisting them in making informed investment decisions. Additionally, the research aims to provide guidance for managers in developing effective dividend policy strategies to potentially reduce share price volatility. By addressing these research objectives, this study aims to contribute to the existing body of knowledge regarding dividend policies and share price volatility in the Vietnamese HOSE market.
The findings will provide valuable insights for investors, managers, and policymakers, aiding in the understanding and management of share price volatility and dividend policy decisions. Research Methods This section outlines the research methodology employed to investigate the relationship between dividend policies and share price volatility in the Vietnamese HOSE market. The study utilized the multiple least square (MLS) method to analyze a dataset consisting of information from 120 companies listed on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HOSE). The research design, data collection, and statistical analysis procedures will be discussed further in the paper.
The research design adopted for this study was the framework of Baskin (1989), using quantitative research method. It aimed to examine the relationship between dividend policies and share price volatility by employing statistical techniques. The utilization of the MLS method facilitated the estimation of regression models to assess the impact of dividend payout and dividend yield on share price volatility. The primary source of data for this study was the financial statements and stock market data of the selected 120 companies listed on the HOSE.
The data encompassed a specific time period, from 2012 to 2018, capturing relevant variables such as dividend payout, dividend yield, and share price volatility. The reason for the choice of this specific period is due to the fact that the economy was operating conventionally during this stage, and that the Covid- 8 19 epidemic was not burst throughout the world, affecting the entire globe. The financial statements were obtained from reputable financial databases such as CafeF or Vietstock, while stock market data, including daily share prices, were acquired from Fiintrade Premium. Paper Overview This paper is be organized into 6 main chapters.
The first chapter would be the introduction, where the research back ground, research purpose and an overview of the research method are explained. Chapter 2 will be a revision of previous literature on dividend policies and its relationship with share price volatility. To be more specific, the entire chapter includes 5 subsections, the first part will define dividend and discuss about dividend policies. Subsection 2 explains some of the most common types of dividend policies that are used by companies around the world, not just in Viet Nam.
The next part is the main section of Chapter 2, where some of the most well-known dividend theories will be reviewed and discussed thoroughly, in order to have a firmer grasp of dividend policy, as well as corporate behavior in regard to dividend policies. The fourth subsection focuses on another aspect of dividend, which is the famous “Dividend Puzzle”, in order to understand why firms pay cash dividend. The last part of this chapter will provide an overview of the relationship between dividend policies and share price fluctuation. Chapter 3 incorporates the methodology, in which it discusses matters related to hypothesis development, including previous research and studies of other scholars in multiple contexts, as well as specifying the research model and revealing the sources of data collection.
Chapter 4 and Chapter 5 reveal the regression result and further discussion in terms of those results, as well as specify some of the limitations of the model. The final chapter will draw a conclusion of the research model. Literature review and theoretical framework Dividend policy has long been a subject of substantial interest and debate in the field of corporate finance. The decision on how much and when to distribute earnings to shareholders through dividends is a crucial aspect of corporate financial management.
The literature plays a vital role in understanding the dividend. It also offers various explanations for the reason behind dividend payments. Numerous studies and research have examined the determinants, implications, and effects of dividend policies, contributing to an extensive body of literature on the topic. This chapter serves as a comprehensive literature review that consolidates existing research and the key theories and trends in the field of dividend policy.
Dividend definition and dividend policy Dividend is a percentage of a company’s profit that is paid to the company’s shareholders, which usually comes in the form of cash or additional shares. Dividend policy refers to the practices and guidelines, in terms of when and how much dividend should be distributed for the shareholders. The decision for dividend distribution is usually made by the Board of Directors, who will ensure the benefits and welfare for their shareholders, as well as assure that the company will operate sustainably, in order to generate decent profit for the years to come. If a company offers a reasonable dividend policy that can meet the investors preferences and sustain the company's operation at the same time, their stocks will attract more investors and benefit the company in the long run.
Hence, a good dividend policy is a crucial part of corporate financing strategy. Or so we think? This has been one of the most common, as well as fascinating subjects for economic researchers for several decades (Lintner, 1956; Miller & Modigliani, 1961; Black, 1976; 10 Modigliani,1982; Baskin, 1989). The more we look into dividend, the more we realize it is not as simple as we all think.