Revista Brasileira de Finanças (Dec 2003)
The Clientele Effect in the Brazilian Market: Are Investors Irrational?
Abstract
This work tests the dividend clientele effect in the Brazilian stock market between 1989 and 1993, a period during which there no dividends taxes varied between zero and 25% according to shareholders group. From a sample of 693 events studied, 47% showed first ex-dividend day stock price higher than in the previous day. These findings were against theoretical predictions and investors attitudes may be considered irrational because they were paying more for ex-dividend shares than for cum-dividend ones. Sample segmentation by year showed no difference. Financial institutions and first group stock yield had lower abnormal returns than other. Positive abnormal returns of 1,4% in the first ex-dividend day was found, 0,1% significant. Five days abnormal returns following last cum-dividends day study showed that stock prices increased and returned to the original price few days later.
