The Residual Dividend Model
We generally refer to this dividend policy approach as the residual dividend model, the free cash flow theory of dividends. Though we would expect that the firm might respond to the factors discussed above and thus to deviate somewhat from this ideal, the current rates seem to be a prime environment for it to apply.
However, the residual dividend model doesn't really seem to explain the observed dividend policies of real-world companies. Most companies pay relatively consistent dividends from one year to the next, and managers seem to prefer paying a steadily increasing dividend rather than paying a divi- dend that fluctuates dramatically from one year to the next. For example, con- sider the dividends and EPS figures for General Electric Co. (GE) shown in Figure 17.1
GE has very consistently kept the dividend for all four quarters of each year constant, raising the dividend smoothly from year year, but EPS has been quite volatile throughout this time period. Many companies follow an approach similar to GE's. The general consensus about why firms follow this approach seems to that managers at these firms feel that their inves- tors value dependability and stability in their personal dividend streams more than investors resent the burden that such a strategy places on the firm's cash flows.
Payeing a constant yet steadily increasing dividend does impose a burden on the firm, for several different reasons. For exmple, firms in this situation frequently find themselves simultaneously issuing new equity (and paying the associated underwriting fees for doing so) and paying dividends to existing equity holders.
Probably the most compelling reason that most firms have for paying a consis- tent dividend like this is that most investors are very risk averse, so they actually