Who can declare cash dividends?
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Cash dividends are declared by companies.
BAJAJ BROKING
For companies that share their profits with their shareholders, the distribution of these profits can be done in different ways. One of these is through cash dividends.
Think of cash dividends as a reward that shareholders receive when they put their trust in the company. This holds true for both seasoned investors and beginners.
Here we will dive deep into everything you want to know about cash dividends
Think of a cash dividend as the company's way of saying "thank you" to its shareholders. Distributing a portion of its earnings is done through cash dividends to shareholders to show gratitude for their investment and loyalty.
Cash dividends are different from stock dividends as the latter is where shareholders receive extra shares while the former involves actual money.
Cash dividends are simple and effective and help companies share their success while also providing investors with something extra to benefit them.
The working of a cash dividend is pretty straightforward. When the company earns profits, it can decide to share a portion of those profits with the shareholders as an incentive and a thank-you gesture for their investment.
When that is decided, the company proceeds to announce how much it will pay per share as a dividend. To understand this process better, let us take an example:
Suppose an investor owns 100 shares of a company. The cash dividend for this company is set at 20 rupees per share, an investor will 200 rupees.
Certain dates need to be kept in mind, however, when investors are trying to keep track of the dividend payouts. This includes the date when the dividend would be announced, the date the cash dividend is credited to your account, etc.
The formula to calculate the cash dividend is fairly simple:
Total Cash Dividend = Dividend Per Share × Number of Shares
To help you understand how cash dividends work, here is an example:
Let us assume that you have 200 shares of Company A. Now the company announces a cash dividend of 50 cents/share. This basically means that for every share of company A you own, you will get 50 cents.
Let us now use the cash dividend formula to calculate how much that comes to:
Cash Dividend per Share × Number of Shares = $0.50 × 200 = $100
Through this cash dividend, you can get $100 in your bank account. This money is sent to you either through a check or the money is directly deposited in your bank account.
Two elements determine how much total money you will receive in your account: the cash dividend announced by the company and the number of shares you hold of the company.
Companies follow four specific steps to issue cash dividends to their shareholders. Below is a breakdown of these steps:
Company Decision
Before the dividend is announced, the company’s board of directors analyze the company's financial health. The company’s revenue is looked at and the decision to give extra cash to shareholders is made keeping in mind the future of the company.
Declaration Date
Once the company’s mind is made up about announcing the dividend, they reveal the dividend amount, i.e. the cash amount per share.
Record Date
To receive the cash divided by the company, you need to be a shareholder of the company. Post the declaration date, the company sets another date called the record date. This is the date that shareholders will receive the cash dividend.
Apart from cash dividends, companies can also reward their shareholders through stock dividends. Cash dividends involve actual money, which is directly credited into the shareholder’s account and is taken out of the company's profits. Stock dividends, on the other hand, provide shareholders with additional company shares instead of cash.
Importance of Cash Dividend
Cash dividends act as a communicative and appreciative gesture by the company, towards the shareholders. This helps shareholders feel seen and acknowledged. On top of that, it also helps provide shareholders with a dependable source of income.
This becomes extremely important for shareholders who are dependent on their investment portfolio to maintain their financial security. Cash dividends also help bring in new investors for a company as the promise of consistent dividend payouts makes a company's stock more attractive.
Cash dividends make for a great way to help both the shareholders and the company. Here are some of the benefits they hold:
Steady Income Source:
Cash dividends help provide shareholders with a reliable income source.
This provides stability to investors who rely on their investments to maintain their financial goals.
Tangible Returns:
With cash dividends, there come immediate returns.
Since shareholders receive actual cash with cash dividends they can use it to cover their expenses or for reinvestment.
Shareholder Loyalty:
With regular cash dividends to shareholders comes the feeling of being seen and appreciated by the company.
With consistent cash dividends, trust is built further and this encourages shareholders to stay invested in the company long-term.
Attracting Investors:
Potential investors will always want to invest in companies that are offering attractive cash dividends.
So a cash dividend is also a great way to attract new investors for a company.
Signal of Financial Health:
When a company is regularly paying cash dividends, it signals the company’s financial position is strong.
There is no doubt that cash dividends have their advantages, but it is also important to know their limitations for investors.
Reduced Reinvestment Opportunities:
With cash dividends come less money for shareholders to reinvest.
Since shareholders are not using those funds to buy more shares, they are instead getting cash that might not work well for long-term returns.
Market Perceptions:
A sudden reduction or complete elimination of cash dividends can potentially signify a company being in financial difficulties or uncertainty.
This could lead to a decrease in investor confidence and the company's stock price as well.
Pressure on Company Finances:
Since cash dividends require companies to share a portion of their profits with shareholders, during financial challenges or needs it might prove to be counterproductive for the company.
Tax Implications:
Shareholders need to remember that cash dividends are taxed as income.
This could end up eating into the final returns the shareholders might get from the cash dividends.
Market Expectations:
The financial market is a volatile space and shareholders need to understand the trend of regular cash dividend payouts might not always exist.
Companies can reduce or suspend dividends if they are having financial issues and this could prove to be a loss for shareholders.
Opportunity Cost:
For a company, the cash being used to make dividend payouts could also be utilized for other purposes like debt reduction, R&D etc.
This loss of opportunity could affect the company's long-term growth potential.
Cash dividends make for a great wway fro companies to make shareholders feel seen and appreciated for their investment in the company. This increases loyalty and has the potential to attract new investors while roviding sharehodlers with a steady cash flow.
However, cash dividends do not come without their share of limitations. This is why it is important to understand every aspect of this provision before investors decide to buy the shares of a company solely dependent on their cash dividend payouts.
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Disclaimer: Investments in the securities market are subject to market risk, read all related documents carefully before investing.
This content is for educational purposes only. Securities quoted are exemplary and not recommendatory.
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Share this article:
Cash dividends are declared by companies.
No. Cash dividends offer cash payouts to shareholders while bonus dividends offer extra shares of the company.
When a company is known to provide regular and attractive cash payouts to its shareholders, the company’s stock becomes more attractive to potential investors.
Cash dividends do not affect a company’s net income.
For shareholders, cash dividends can be considered as assets
A cash dividend is considered an income rather than a capital gain.
Cash dividends offer cash payments, i.e. immediate income for investors and shareholders to utilize.
Yes, they are taxed per your income slab.
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