--%>

Effect of illegal obligations on cost of equity

If dividends paid to common stockholders are not legal obligations of a corporation, is the cost of equity zero?  Describe your answer.

Even though common stockholders do not contain a contractual claim on dividends the funds supplied by stockholders definitely contain a cost.  Equity investors are paid last and therefore they are taking the greatest risk among all of the suppliers of capital.  If the company does not get a higher rate of return onto equity funds to compensate for the higher risk taken through equity investors, the price of the stock will fall and thus the value of the firm. 

   Related Questions in Managerial Accounting

  • Q : Cash shortage/overage An income

    An income statement item that represents the difference between the actual cash amount and an accounting measure of how much cash there should be. The most common example exists in a retail situation where the cash in the cash register is compared to the register tape

  • Q : Federal budget Choose the right answer

    Choose the right answer from following. Which one did not contribute to the large Federal budget deficits in the year of 2002 and 2003? A) spending on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. B) low interest rates. C) Federal tax cuts. D) the recession of 2001 and its afterm

  • Q : Major tasks of board that runs the

    Write down a short note on the major tasks of board that runs the organization?

  • Q : What is Incremental Cost Incremental

    Incremental Cost: The raise or reduction in total costs which would result from a decision to raise or reduce output level, to add a service or task, or to modify any part of operations. This information aids in making decisions such

  • Q : Techniques to liberate the function of

    Write down the different techniques employed to liberate the function of management accounting?

  • Q : Explain Cost or Benefit Analysis Cost

    Cost or Benefit Analysis: The Cost-benefit analysis (abbreviated as CBA) is an analytical device for assessing and pros and cons of moving forward with the business proposal. It is a process by which business decis

  • Q : What do you mean by the term SWOT

    What do you mean by the term SWOT analysis? Explain in brief?

  • Q : Define Fixed Cost Fixed Cost: The cost

    Fixed Cost: The cost which does not differ in the short term with the volume of action. Fixed cost information is helpful for cost savings by regulating existing capacity, or by removing idle facilities. Also termed as Non-Variable Cost or the Constan

  • Q : Deficiency of a partnership deed In the

    In the deficiency of a partnership deed, how are mutual relations of partners managed? Answer: In the absence of Partnership deed, the mutual relations are managed b

  • Q : Explain Performance Measurement

    Performance Measurement: A means of computing effectiveness, efficiency, and outcomes. A balanced performance measurement score-card comprises financial and non-financial measures focusing on the quality, cycle-time, and price. The performance measure