Dividend signaling or dividend smoothing? New empirical evidence from the italian insurance industry after the global financial crisis

In: Zeitschrift für die gesamte Versicherungswissenschaft, Band 111, Heft 4, S. 473-494

Abstract

AbstractThis empirical study examines the dividend policy of insurance companies in Italy after the Global Financial Crisis. There is clear evidence for dividend signaling in this period of time. Moreover, the relationship between stock prices and dividend payments is analyzed in more detail. Additionally, the paper also discusses macroeconomic and regulatory issues that could be of relevance for the dividend policy of the Italian insurance industry. In this context the study exemplarily discusses the possible role of inflation and of regulatory restrictions on dividend payouts in the financial services industry.