Dividends and market efficiency: a multi‐index arbitrage investment strategy

Outlines previous research on the relationship between dividend policy and stock returns; and uses a linear programme and multi‐index model to form an investment strategy to see whether dividend yields increase stock returns. Explains the methodology, tests it on 1965‐1989 US data and presents the results, which suggests that the multi‐index model is superior to the single index market model in terms of explanatory power and volatility; but provides conflicting conclusions on the relevance of dividends to stock returns. Suggests that the negative relationship between dividends and stock returns can be explained by Jensen’s (1986) free cash flow theory and the influence of transaction costs.