CEO Overconfidence and Dividend Policy

55 Pages Posted: 29 Oct 2009 Last revised: 16 Mar 2010

See all articles by Sanjay Deshmukh

Sanjay Deshmukh

DePaul University - Department of Finance

Anand M. Goel

Stevens Institute of Technology

Keith M. Howe

DePaul University - Department of Finance

Date Written: February 18, 2010

Abstract

We develop a model of the effect of CEO overconfidence on dividend policy and empirically examine its central predictions. Consistent with our main prediction, we find that the level of dividend payout is lower in firms managed by overconfident CEOs. We document that this reduction in dividends associated with CEO overconfidence is greater in firms with lower growth opportunities and lower cash flow. We also show that the magnitude of the positive market reaction to a dividend-increase announcement is lower for firms managed by overconfident CEOs. Our overall results are consistent with the predictions of our model.

Keywords: CEO, Overconfidence, Dividends, Payout

JEL Classification: G350, D810

Suggested Citation

Deshmukh, Sanjay and Goel, Anand Mohan and Howe, Keith M., CEO Overconfidence and Dividend Policy (February 18, 2010). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1496404 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1496404

Sanjay Deshmukh

DePaul University - Department of Finance ( email )

1 East Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60604-2287
United States
312-362-8472 (Phone)
312-362-6566 (Fax)

Anand Mohan Goel

Stevens Institute of Technology ( email )

Hoboken, NJ 07030
United States

HOME PAGE: http://www.anandgoel.org

Keith M. Howe (Contact Author)

DePaul University - Department of Finance ( email )

1 East Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60604-2287
United States
312-362-5126 (Phone)

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
809
Abstract Views
4,155
Rank
56,241
PlumX Metrics