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Dividend Policy at Firms Accused of Accounting Fraud

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  • Judson Caskey
  • Michelle Hanlon

Abstract

Recent studies and some policy experts have posited that dividends indicate higher†quality earnings. In this study, we test this conjecture by comparing the dividend policies of firms accused of accounting fraud to those of firms not accused of accounting fraud. Specifically, we examine whether alleged fraud firms are as likely to be dividend payers as non†fraud firms, and whether managers of dividend†paying fraud firms increase dividends at the same rate as managers of non†fraud firms. Our data reveal that dividend paying status is negatively associated with the probability of committing accounting fraud. In addition, we also find that, during the alleged fraud period, the earnings–dividends relation is weaker for the alleged fraud firms relative to firms not accused of fraud. Finally, using propensity score match tests, the data provide evidence that managers of alleged fraud firms increase dividends less often than managers of firms not accused of fraud, consistent with the alleged fraud firms not being able to match the dividend policies of firms not accused of fraud. Overall, our results suggest that dividends, especially dividend increases, are associated with higher earnings quality.

Suggested Citation

  • Judson Caskey & Michelle Hanlon, 2013. "Dividend Policy at Firms Accused of Accounting Fraud," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(2), pages 818-850, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:coacre:v:30:y:2013:i:2:p:818-850
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1911-3846.2012.01173.x
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    Cited by:

    1. Martin Kapons & Peter Kelly & Robert Stoumbos & Rafael Zambrana, 2023. "Dividends, trust, and firm value," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 28(3), pages 1354-1387, September.
    2. Kathryn E. Easterday & Pradyot K. Sen, 2023. "Another look at the dividend-price relationship in the accounting valuation framework," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 61(3), pages 879-925, October.
    3. Nadia Ahadnezhad & Behnam Azadi & Peyman Imanzadeh, 2018. "Figuring the Relationship between Cash Dividend Ratio and Stock Price Crash in Companies Accepted in Tehran Stock Exchange," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 8(4), pages 277-283.
    4. David S. Koo & Santhosh Ramalingegowda & Yong Yu, 2017. "The effect of financial reporting quality on corporate dividend policy," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 22(2), pages 753-790, June.
    5. Ed-Dafali, Slimane & Patel, Ritesh & Iqbal, Najaf, 2023. "A bibliometric review of dividend policy literature," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    6. Mike Adams & Wei Jiang & Tianshu Ma, 2024. "CEO power, corporate risk management, and dividends: disentangling CEO managerial ability from entrenchment," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 62(2), pages 683-717, February.
    7. He, Wen & Ng, Lilian & Zaiats, Nataliya & Zhang, Bohui, 2017. "Dividend policy and earnings management across countries," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 267-286.
    8. Charles G. Ham & Zachary R. Kaplan & Steven Utke, 2023. "Attention to dividends, inattention to earnings?," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 28(1), pages 265-306, March.
    9. Hakim Lyngstad{aa}s & Johannes Mauritzen, 2023. "Adults in the room? The auditor and dividends in small firms: Evidence from a natural experiment," Papers 2301.11079, arXiv.org.
    10. Wang, Yang & Ashton, John K. & Jaafar, Aziz, 2023. "Financial statement fraud, recidivism and punishment," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 56(C).

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