Burt Equipment Corp. has paid dividends with a steady increase for the past five years. That the _______________ might cause the firm to pay less dividend for this year or so.

a) increase in the number of new projects under consideration as compared to prior years

b) loss of a major customer which lowers the overall company's outlook for the next few years

c) decrease in the next quarter's revenue

d) major lump sum cash outflow next month to start a new project

e) decrease in the next quarter's net income