Prompt 1 MMs dividend irrelevance theory states that dividend policy does not affect either stock prices or the required rate of return on equity. This implies that shareholders should be indifferent as to which form of payout the firm chooses. At the same time, firms spend a good amount of resources over planning their payout policies.

• Discuss why firms spend so much time and money planning their payout policies if it doesnt affect stock or the required rate of return on equity?

Prompt 2 Now, read the description/report below (from page 497-9 of your textbook).

We forecasted the total market demand for our products, what our share of the market is likely to be, and our required investments in capital assets and working capital. Using this information, we developed projected balance sheets and income statements for the period 20152019.

Our 2014 dividends totaled $50 million, or $2.00 per share. On the basis of projected earnings, cash flows, and capital requirements, we can increase the dividend by 6% per year. This would be consistent with a payout ratio of 42%, on average, over the forecast period. Any faster dividend growth rate would require us to sell common stock, cut the capital budget, or raise the debt ratio. Any slower growth rate would lead to increases in the common equity ratio. Therefore, I recommend that the Board increase the dividend for 2015 by 6%, to $2.12, and that it plan for similar increases in the future.

Events over the next 5 years will undoubtedly lead to differences between our forecasts and actual results. If and when such events occur, we should reexamine our position. However, I am confident that we can meet random cash shortfalls by increasing our borrowingswe have unused debt capacity that gives us flexibility in this regard.

We ran the corporate model under several scenarios. If the economy totally collapses, our earnings will not cover the dividend. However, in all likely scenarios our cash flows would cover the recommended dividend. I know the Board does not want to push the dividend up to a level where we would have to cut it under poor economic conditions. Our model runs indicate, though, that the $2.12 dividend could be maintained under any reasonable set of forecasts. Only if we increased the dividend to more than $3.00 would we be seriously exposed to the danger of having to reduce it.

I might also note that most analysts reports are forecasting that our dividends will grow in the 5% to 6% range. Thus, if we go to $2.12, we will be at the high end of the forecast range, which should give our stock a boost. With takeover rumors so widespread, getting the stock price up a bit would make us all breathe a little easier.

Finally, we considered distributing cash to shareholders through a stock repurchase program. Here we would reduce the dividend payout ratio and use the funds generated to buy our stock on the open market. Such a program has several advantages, but it would also have drawbacks. I do not recommend that we institute a stock repurchase program at this time. However, if our free cash flows exceed our forecasts, I would recommend that we use these surpluses to buy back stock. Also, I plan to continue looking into a regular repurchase program, and I may recommend such a program in the future.

• Discuss how stable this firm seems to be based on the payout policy they are undertaking.