52 The ex-dividend date is ________ the holder of record date. Answer A two weeks before B five days before C three days after D two days before Question 53 Assume that Home Depot's annual dividend is $0.96 per share. This dividend would most likely be paid as: Answer A $0.48 twice a year. B $0.96 once a year. C $0.24 four times per year. D whenever the company had extra cash. Question 54 The ________ designates the date on which the stock transfer books are closed in regard to a dividend payment. Answer A payment date B date of record C declaration date D ex-dividend date Question 55 Assume that as the result of a firm announcing a large unexpected increase in its dividend payment, the price of the firm's common stock rises. This event would be consistent with which of the following? Answer A The beta effect B The tax preference theory C The dividend irrelevance theory D The information effect