Dividend Payout of the Property Firms in Malaysia

This study examines the dividend payout practices of the listed property firms in Malaysia from 1995 to 2005. The results show that dividend payments are less sticky and firms have to cut dividend payments as the operating risk increases, measured by cash flow volatility. Family ownership has a significant positive effect on the dividend policy of property firms which seems to suggest that these firms use dividend policy to reduce agency conflicts. Related diversification of the property firms has a significant influence on the dividend payout of the firms. These results contribute to the corporate governance and ownership literature in the emerging markets.