DIVIDEND POLICY AND FIRM PERFORMANCE: A STUDY OF LISTED FIRMS IN NIGERIA

This study basically investigates the relationship between the financial performance and dividend payout among listed firms ’ in Nigeria. It also looks at the relationship between ownership structure, size of firms and the dividend payouts. The annual reports for the period 2006-2010 were utilized as the main source of data collection for the 50 sampled firms. The regression analysis method was employed as a statistical technique for analysing the data collected. We find that there is a significant positive association between the performance of firms and the dividend payout of the sampled firms in Nigeria. The study also revealed that ownership structure and firm’s size has a significant impact of the dividend payout of firms too. Financial performance, annual reports, firms, ownership structure, dividend policy, dividend payout, Nigeri