IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jrisks/v11y2023i10p181-d1262647.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Determinants of Cash Distribution Options in South African Listed Firms: An Empirical Analysis of Earnings, Company Size, and Economic Value Added

Author

Listed:
  • Ntungufhadzeni Freddy Munzhelele

    (Faculty of Management, Commerce and Law, University of Venda, Thohoyandou 0950, South Africa)

  • Ayodeji Michael Obadire

    (School of Finance and Professional Studies, Botswana Accountancy College, Gaborone 00319, Botswana)

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the determinants of cash distribution options by critically considering the effects of earnings, dividends, firm size, and economic value added. The distribution of cash dividends to shareholders serves as a basic means by which shareholders receive returns on their investments, so it is essential to examine share repurchases alongside dividends to enhance management’s efforts in maximising shareholder value. This study utilised panel data from 52 companies listed on the Johannesburg Security Exchange (JSE) that engaged in open market share repurchases for at least 2 years between 2000 and 2019. The data were extracted from the IRESS database. The panel data regression model was fitted with the ordinary least squares (OLS), difference generalised moment method (Diff-GMM), system generalised moment method (Sys-GMM), and least-squares dummy variable correction estimator (LSDVC). The findings revealed that there was a positive and significant relationship between the earnings per share and the payoff flexibility, implying that there was an inherent flexibility of repurchases as a payout option in the sampled firms. Additionally, the study revealed a significant negative relationship between the firm size, economic value added, and payoff flexibility. This suggests that larger companies tend to distribute a lower proportion of their earnings as share repurchases and opt for higher cash dividends instead. The implications of these findings provide financial managers with valuable insights into the role of share repurchases as a cash distribution choice. By recognising share repurchases as a viable option, financial managers can enhance their efforts to create and maximise shareholder value, particularly in emerging market settings. This evidence should encourage financial managers to recognise share repurchases more as a distribution choice, diffusing the tension regarding share repurchases replacing the payment of cash dividends and some doubt that they may not possess attributes complimentary to cash dividends. The study recommended relevant academic, industry, and policy implications in the South African context.

Suggested Citation

  • Ntungufhadzeni Freddy Munzhelele & Ayodeji Michael Obadire, 2023. "Determinants of Cash Distribution Options in South African Listed Firms: An Empirical Analysis of Earnings, Company Size, and Economic Value Added," Risks, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-20, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jrisks:v:11:y:2023:i:10:p:181-:d:1262647
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9091/11/10/181/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9091/11/10/181/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ota, Koji & Kawase, Hironori & Lau, David, 2019. "Does reputation matter? Evidence from share repurchases," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 287-306.
    2. Skinner, Douglas J., 2008. "The evolving relation between earnings, dividends, and stock repurchases," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 87(3), pages 582-609, March.
    3. Elisabeth Dedman & Shan Hua & Thanamas Kungwal, 2022. "Why do UK firms repurchase their own shares?," International Journal of Banking, Accounting and Finance, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 13(2), pages 177-216.
    4. Gustavo Grullon & Roni Michaely, 2002. "Dividends, Share Repurchases, and the Substitution Hypothesis," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 57(4), pages 1649-1684, August.
    5. R Chivaka & A Siddle & L Bayne & C Cairney & J Shev, 2009. "Reasons for share repurchases in South Africa: Theory versus practice," South African Journal of Accounting Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(1), pages 1-30, January.
    6. Stephen A. Ross, 1977. "The Determination of Financial Structure: The Incentive-Signalling Approach," Bell Journal of Economics, The RAND Corporation, vol. 8(1), pages 23-40, Spring.
    7. Opler, Tim & Pinkowitz, Lee & Stulz, Rene & Williamson, Rohan, 1999. "The determinants and implications of corporate cash holdings," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 52(1), pages 3-46, April.
    8. Subramanian Rama Iyer & Ramesh P. Rao, 2017. "Share Repurchases And The Flexibility Hypothesis," Journal of Financial Research, Southern Finance Association;Southwestern Finance Association, vol. 40(3), pages 287-313, September.
    9. Rapp, Marc Steffen & Schmid, Thomas & Urban, Daniel, 2014. "The value of financial flexibility and corporate financial policy," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 29(C), pages 288-302.
    10. Andres, Christian & Betzer, André & Goergen, Marc & Renneboog, Luc, 2009. "Dividend policy of German firms: A panel data analysis of partial adjustment models," Journal of Empirical Finance, Elsevier, vol. 16(2), pages 175-187, March.
    11. Gustavo Grullon & Roni Michaely & Bhaskaran Swaminathan, 2002. "Are Dividend Changes a Sign of Firm Maturity?," The Journal of Business, University of Chicago Press, vol. 75(3), pages 387-424, July.
    12. Jiang, Zhan & Kim, Kenneth A. & Lie, Erik & Yang, Sean, 2013. "Share repurchases, catering, and dividend substitution," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 21(C), pages 36-50.
    13. Lee, Chien-Chiang & Hsieh, Meng-Fen, 2013. "The impact of bank capital on profitability and risk in Asian banking," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 32(C), pages 251-281.
    14. Ulrich Pidun, 2019. "Corporate Financial Strategy," Springer Books, in: Corporate Strategy, chapter 10, pages 229-252, Springer.
    15. Marsh, Terry A & Merton, Robert C, 1987. "Dividend Behavior for the Aggregate Stock Market," The Journal of Business, University of Chicago Press, vol. 60(1), pages 1-40, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Wong, Jin Boon & Hasan, Mostafa Monzur, 2021. "Oil shocks and corporate payouts," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    2. James, Hui & Benson, Bradley W. & Wu, Chen (Ken), 2017. "Does CEO ownership affect payout policy? Evidence from using CEO scaled wealth-performance sensitivity," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 328-345.
    3. Chang, Yuyuan & He, Wen & Mi, Lin, 2024. "Climate risk and payout flexibility around the world," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).
    4. Bradley Benson & Travis Davidson & Hui James & Hongxia Wang, 2022. "Board busyness and corporate payout: are all busy directors the same?," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 62(3), pages 3711-3759, September.
    5. Hui Liang James & Hongxia Wang, 2021. "Independent director tenure and dividends," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 48(5-6), pages 1057-1091, May.
    6. Nilakshi Borah & Hui Liang James & Jung Chul Park, 2020. "Does CEO inside debt compensation benefit both shareholders and debtholders?," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 54(1), pages 159-203, January.
    7. Banyi, Monica L. & Kahle, Kathleen M., 2014. "Declining propensity to pay? A re-examination of the lifecycle theory," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 27(C), pages 345-366.
    8. Hussein Abedi Shamsabadi & Byung-Seong Min & Richard Chung, 2016. "Corporate governance and dividend strategy: lessons from Australia," International Journal of Managerial Finance, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 12(5), pages 583-610, October.
    9. Andres, Christian & Doumet, Markus & Fernau, Erik & Theissen, Erik, 2015. "The Lintner model revisited: Dividends versus total payouts," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 56-69.
    10. Renneboog, Luc & Szilagyi, Peter G., 2020. "How relevant is dividend policy under low shareholder protection?," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    11. Kulchania, Manoj, 2013. "Catering driven substitution in corporate payouts," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 21(C), pages 180-195.
    12. Andriosopoulos, Dimitris & Hoque, Hafiz, 2013. "The determinants of share repurchases in Europe," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 27(C), pages 65-76.
    13. Chino, Atsushi, 2016. "Do labor unions affect firm payout policy?: Operating leverage and rent extraction effects," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 156-178.
    14. Andriosopoulos, Dimitris & Lasfer, Meziane, 2015. "The market valuation of share repurchases in Europe," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 327-339.
    15. Abdullah AlGhazali & Khamis Hamed Al-Yahyaee & Richard Fairchild & Yilmaz Guney, 2024. "What do dividend changes reveal? Theory and evidence from a unique environment," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 62(2), pages 499-552, February.
    16. Gyimah, Daniel & Gyapong, Ernest, 2021. "Managerial entrenchment and payout policy: A catering effect," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    17. Cho, Jin Seo & Kim, Tae-hwan & Shin, Yongcheol, 2015. "Quantile cointegration in the autoregressive distributed-lag modeling framework," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 188(1), pages 281-300.
    18. Batabyal, Sourav & Robinson, Richard, 2017. "Capital change and stability when dividends convey signals," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 158-167.
    19. Gerald J. Lobo & Ashok Robin & Kean Wu, 2020. "Share repurchases and accounting conservatism," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 54(2), pages 699-733, February.
    20. Denis, David J. & Osobov, Igor, 2008. "Why do firms pay dividends? International evidence on the determinants of dividend policy," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 89(1), pages 62-82, July.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jrisks:v:11:y:2023:i:10:p:181-:d:1262647. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.