THE EVALUATION OF FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE, MEASURES AS DETERMINANTS OF DIVIDEND POLICIES IN NIGERIA BANKING INDUSTRY
ABSTRACT
In this research work titled “Evaluation of financial performance measures as determinants of dividend policies in Nigeria Banking industry”. The researcher examined the relationship between earning per share and dividend per share of selected Nigerian banks. Evaluates the relationship between firm size and dividend per share of Nigerian banks. Examined the relationship between return on asset and dividend per share of Nigerian banks. Evaluated the relationship between net assets value per share and dividend per share of Nigerian banks. The researcher made use of only secondary data from six years annual report and accounts of the two quoted bank (Access bank Plc and Guaranty Trust Bank Plc) listed on the Nigeria stock exchange were collected and regression analysis was utilized in the data analysis. The researcher found out that there is significant relationship between earning per share and dividend per share of selected Nigerian banks. It was also discovered that there is significant relationship between firm size and dividend per share of Nigerian banks. The researcher equally found out that there is relationship between return on asset and dividend per share of Nigerian banks. The study shows that there is significant relationship between net assets value per share and dividend per share of Nigerian banks. Based on the findings the researcher recommends that Organizations should ensure that they have a good and robust dividend policy in place. This will enhance their profitability and attract investments to the organizations. Directors of corporate organizations should be made to update the records of shareholders including their next-of-kin to avoid a deliberate diversion or undue retention of unclaimed dividend warrants. Due procedures for the recognition and utilization of profit arising from investment of unclaimed dividend should be effected and properly accounted for.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
So many factors affect the performance of corporate organizations and one of those factors is dividend policy. Dividend policy serves as a mechanism for control of a managerial opportunism. Empirical studies show that firms in developing Countries (e.g. Nigeria) smooth on their income and therefore, their dividends. The pattern of corporate dividend policies not only varies over time but also across countries, especially between developed, developing and emerging Capital markets. If the value of a company is the function of its dividend payments, dividend policy will affect directly the firm’s cost of capital.(Aggarwal, 2016).
In evaluating Corporate Performance, the emphasis is on assessing the current behavior of the organization in respect to its efficiency and effectiveness. To measure overall corporate performance goals are set for each of these perspectives and specific measure for achieving such goals are determined. Each of these perspectives is critical and must be considered simultaneously, to achieve overall efficiency and effectiveness, and to succeed in the long-run. If any area is either over-emphasized or underemphasized, performance evaluation will become „unbalanced‟. In this way, the aim of the concept is to establish a set of measures both financial and non-financial, through which, a company can control its activities and balance various measures to effectively track performance (Arriff, & Johnson, 2017).