This article analyzes the trends and the determinants of the dividend policy of Indian companies that were continuously paying dividend during the whole period study that is from 1994–1995 to 2012–2013. We have used the static panel data models to carry out this analysis. From the trend analysis we find that larger, more profitable, more mature and highly liquid firms have higher dividend payout ratio, whereas the firms with high investment opportunity, financial leverage and business risk have lower dividend payout ratio. The findings from the panel data analysis suggest that investment opportunity, financial leverage, size of the company, business risk, firm life cycle, profitability, tax and liquidity are the major determinants of the dividend policy for Indian companies. These results were robust across the period also. The findings are consistent with the pecking order, transaction cost, signalling and firm life cycle theories of the dividend policy.

<p class="ber"><span lang="EN-GB">The present study analyzes the trend and determinants of dividend payout ratio of National Stock Exchange (NSE) listed companies in India. The study is based on 239 companies, which have continuous data during the period 1994-95 to 2012-13. From the trend analysis we find that the number of dividend paying companies has declined but the average dividend paid by them has increased manifold over the last two decades which suggests that the dividend paying companies have paid higher amounts of dividends in the later years. The dividend payout ratio varies across all the industries with the electricity industry having the lowest payout ratio and the miscellaneous manufacturing industry having the highest payout ratio. The empirical results suggest that firms with high free cash flow, firms which are larger, more profitable and mature, pay more dividends while riskier, more leveraged and firms with high investment opportunities tend to pay lower dividends. The dividend distribution tax rate imposed by government affects the dividend payout ratio positively. The market-to-book ratio, debt-to-equity ratio, free cash flow, business risk, age, size, profitability and dividend distribution tax variables are significant for the entire period of study. Whereas, the business risk, profitability and dividend distribution tax variables are significant for the entire period of study i.e. 1995-2013 as well as for the two sub-periods 1995-2003 and 2004-2013. Overall, the results are consistent with the pecking order, transaction cost, signaling and firm life cycle theory of dividend policy and we find a little evidence for agency costs theory.</span></p>

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This study examines the determinants of two important dividend policy decisions specifically the dividend payment decision and the dividend payout level decision of 781 sample Indian firms enlisted on National Stock Exchange (NSE) over the period, 1995–2015, comparing the business group-affiliated firms with the standalone firms. In term of characteristics, the business group-affiliated firms are larger, more profitable and more levered than the standalone firms. The empirical results suggest that the dividend policy decisions of business group-affiliated firms differ significantly from that of the standalone firms. In the case of standalone firms, the firms with high investment opportunities, high financial leverage and high business risk are less likely to pay dividends, and their dividend payout levels are lower. On the other hand, the firms affiliated with business groups are more likely to pay dividends, and their dividend payout levels are higher even when they have high investment opportunities, high financial leverage and high business risk. Overall, the findings suggest that although the business groups are able to create internal capital markets (ICMs) and shield their member firms from market imperfections, they may suffer from other information asymmetry problems.