Definition of Stock Dividend
Stock dividend can be defined as a form of dividend distribution undertaken by companies which are generally having a poor liquidity situation under which existing shareholders are allotted either additional company’s own shares or shares of any of its subsidiaries based on the number of already owned shares instead of distributing profits in cash.
Explanation
Stock dividends are the dividends paid in stock rather than paying cash. It is a method of rewarding the shareholders without affecting the cash balance of the company. Issuing of the additional shares will lead to dilution of earnings per share (EPS) and market price per share (MPS). These dividends are generally paid infractions as a percentage of existing shares. Such dividends are not taxed until these shares are sold by the owner. Unlike cash dividends, stock dividends do not increase the wealth of the shareholder, but it only increases the number of shares held thereby loweringmarket price per share. In simple words, it is a dividend where companies distribute profit to investors by allotting them additional shares of the company in place of cash dividends. Accordingly, an investor can get a healthy return from the company and the company also doesn’t lose its cash.
How Does It Work?
- Stock dividend is the distribution of shares in place of cash dividends. It is generally distributed when the company wants to reward its shareholders and investors but doesn’t have a cash surplus or needs them for future investments. Stock dividends are advantageous for investors from a tax point of view also as the tax is levied only when the investor sells the shares or until the company offers the holder to take the share or redeem it against cash. Companies may place restrictions on sellingfor a certain period of time after the issue of such shares. The holding period of stock dividends starts from the date it is purchased. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the holding period in order to determine the qualified tax treatment of dividends. If in case the stock dividend comes with the cash dividend option, it will be liable to be taxed even if it is not sold.
- It is important to understand how the stock dividend functions. A stock dividend will not have any impact either on the shareholder’s fund or on the cash balance. Since no cash is distributed, the cash balance remains unaffected. But why shareholders’ value doesn’t change?
- To answer the above question, we need to understand that declaring and distributing stock dividends is the conversion of retained earnings or any other reserves into share capital. A journal entry will be passed with a debit to Reserves and surplus and credit to share capital A/c. Since both reserves and surplus and share capital are components of shareholders fund, a debit and equivalent credit in same will result in shareholders fund remaining unchanged.
Example of Stock Dividend
James a shareholder of Walmart Inc. holds 2000 shares. The company has not earned a good profit and therefore decides to declare a 20% stock dividend. The current stock price is $20 and there are 2,00,000 shares outstanding. Determine the effect of dividends on James’ holdings.
Calculate new MPS and determine the effect on shareholders’ funds.
Solution:
- Market capitalization of Walmart Inc. before dividend declaration-
2,00,000 * $20 = $40,00,000
- Total increase in outstanding shares-
2,00,000 shares * 20% = 40,000 shares
- Total shares outstanding after a 20% increase
2,00,000 + 40,000 = 2,40,000
- James new ownership
2,000 shares + 20% = 2,400 shares
- Price per share of Walmart Inc. after stock dividend-
Market capitalization / Total outstanding shares (Since market capitalization remains unaffected)
$40,00,000 / 2,40,000 = $16.66
Hence declaring of stock dividend does not affect market capitalization but increases the number of shares.
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Impact of Stock Dividend
With the declaration of a stock dividend, there is no actual increase in the value of shareholders’ funds. What actually gets affected is the price of a stock in the same manner as in the case of cash dividends. When the stock dividends are declared the price of stock often increases, but as the stock dividend increases the number of outstanding shares and therefore the value of the company remains the same hence it results in the dilution of market value per share. Since the overall market capitalization remains unchanged, the stock dividend does not impact shareholders’ net worth. However, it can generate liquidity for shareholders. Since the number of shares increases, shareholders can sell someshares while retaining balance.
Journal Entries for Stock Dividend
Genius Inc. have 10,000 common shares outstanding and declares a 10% stock dividend. The par value of a stock is $10. Market value if is $100. Pas journal entry for its accounting
Solution:
Number of new shares to be issued –
10000 * 10% = 1000 shares
Journal entry on the date of declaration
| Date | Particulars | L/f | Debit | Credit |
| —- | Retained Earnings A/c Dr. | 1,00,000 | ||
| To Dividend Payable A/c | 1,00,000 | |||
| (Being Stock dividend announced by company) | ||||
| —- | Dividend Payable A/c Dr. | 1,00,000 | ||
| To Common Stock A/c | 10,000 | |||
| To Paid in Capital in excess of Par A/c | 90,000 | |||
| (Being Stock dividend distributed by the company) | ||||
Advantages
Some of the advantages are given below:
- Stock dividend proves to be advantageous for the company as it honors its commitment of dividend distribution without affecting its working capital. Providing stock dividends helps in saving cash outflows and hence does not affect it liquidity. During hard times when the company doesn’t have sufficient cash to pay dividends, in such a situation stock dividends are very helpful The net cost to the company of stock dividend is negligible.
- Cash dividends are considered as income in the year of receipt and are liable for the tax whereas stock dividends are not taxed in hands of shareholders unless sold.
- By issuing stock dividends, a company can increase the liquidity of its shares as it increases the number of shares in the market.
Disadvantages
Some of the disadvantages are given below:
- The market may observe the declaration of stock dividends as a shortage of liquidity. The marketparticipants might feel that the company is in a distressed position and is facing a liquidity crunch which in turn may have a negative impact on the company’s share market price.
- As the stock dividend does not increase the wealth of shareholders immediately, some might get dissatisfied as the company didn’t pay anything in cash.
- The stock dividend will always lead to falling in share market price which might not be well understood by certain investors. This in turn creates selling pressure on the stock.
Conclusion
Stock dividend can be defined as rewarding shareholders with the company’s own additional shares instead of paying them in cash. The stock dividend does not have an impact on a shareholder’s net worth. However, it increases the number of shares in the market generating additional liquidity for shareholders. Declaring stock dividend instead of cash dividend may be taken as both positively and negatively simultaneously by different stakeholders. While some may take it as company facing liquidity crunch issues) and others may take it as savings for reinvestments in future business development and growth.
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