The Ex-Dividend Day Behavior of American Depository Receipts

Abstract:     
We compare the ex-dividend day stock returns and trading volume of foreign stocks that trade in U.S. markets as American Depository Receipts (ADRs) with the ex-day returns and volume of a matched sample of U.S. stocks. This experiment allows us to investigate whether differences in the way dividends are paid and/or foreign currency risk affect the stock returns and trading volume of ADRs on the ex-dividend day. If these factors inhibit dividend capture in ADRs, then ADRs should earn larger ex-day returns than U.S. stocks, and their ex-day trading volume should be lower. We present evidence consistent with these hypotheses. The results of a cross-sectional regression analysis of ex-day returns and volume are not consistent with a foreign exchange risk premium suppressing dividend capture in ADRs, however, suggesting that differences in dividend payment policies account for the lower level of dividend capture in ADRs.

Keywords: American depository receipts, ADRs, Dividends, Ex-dividend day, Foreign exchange risk, investments, stock market, trading

JEL Classification: G15, G35, F31

Accepted Paper Series