Trend of dividends disappearing and reappearing in Pakistani listed firms

The objective of this study was to explore the main factors of dividend policy determinants. For this purpose, a sample of 150 listed firms in PSX taken into account for the period of 2008-2018. A secondary data taken from SBP publication, Stock exchange collected for this study and variables used size, debt ratio, profitability, size, investment, Firm’s Maturity, Market Capitalization, Return on Equity (ROE), Growth in Sales and leverage was utilized using Panel regression techniques. Data of dividend shows most of the period dividend amount and dividend firms increased during the period of research 2008-18. The trend also shows that dividend pattern increase as base year data to end period study during both democratic governments. Study findings also show that three different aspects of the dividend payment propensity during 2008-2018. Results show that payment of dividend is declined mostly in the small and newly firms because they have less income generated from profit, younger firms, and firms as compared with highly investment pattern of firm, high debts, higher risk in their business and high tax rates on dividend. The Study also finds a significant and positive association with propensity to pay dividend of catering theory and support the catering theory.