It Has Been Argued That Investors Prefer High-Payout Companies Because

question 13

True/False

It has been argued that investors prefer high-payout companies because dividends are more certain (less risky)than the capital gains that are supposed to come from retained earnings.However,Miller and Modigliani say that this argument is incorrect,and they call it the "bird-in-the-hand fallacy." MM base their argument on the belief that most dividends are reinvested in stocks,hence are exposed to the same risks as reinvested earnings.

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Definitions:

Earnings Restatements

The act of amending previously reported financial statements to correct errors.

Dividends

Payments made by a corporation to its shareholders, usually in the form of cash or additional shares, from its profits.

Depreciation

This is the systematic allocation of the cost of a tangible asset over its useful life. It reflects the consumption of the asset over time.

Tax Bill

A tax bill is an official statement from a governmental authority specifying the amount of taxes owed by an individual or organization for a certain period.