Dernham Burnham Inc. is a typical company that is very concerned with meeting investors$$ expectations and keeping investors happy. Its earnings tend to fluctuate from year to year because of the nature of the business the company is in$.$ Which of these statements most likely describes Dernham Burnham Inc.$$s dividend policy?

Dernham Burnham Inc. will increase its dividends in years when it has high earnings so that it can distribute excess free cash flows to investors, even if it means that the firm will have to reduce its dividend in subsequent years.

Dernham Burnham Inc. will be willing to increase its dividend only if it believes that it will be able to maintain the dividend increase in future years.