Dividend Relevance: Walter’s Model

Prof. James E. Walter argues that the choice of dividend policies almost always affect the value of the firm. His model is based on the following assumptions:

1. Internal financing: The firm finances all investment through retained earnings; i.e. debt or new equity is not issued.

2. Constant return and cost of capital: the firm’s rate of return, r , and its cost of capital, k , are constant.

3. 100% payout or retention: All earnings are either distributed as dividends or reinvested internally immediately.

4. Infinite time: the firm has infinite life

Valuation Formula: Based on the above assumptions, Walter put forward the following formula:

P = DIV + (EPS-DIV) r/k

k

P = market price per share

DIV= dividend per share

EPS = earnings per share

DIV-EPS= retained earnings per share

r = firm’s average rate of return

k= firm’s cost o capital or capitalisation rate