The Effect of Ownership Structure on Dividend Payout Policy: Evidence from Jordanian Context

Abstract

This research examines the possible association between ownership structure and Jordanian industrial public shareholding companies’ dividend payout policy. The present study examines the payout behavior of dividends for Jordanian industrial public shareholding companies over the period 2005-2007. The results consistently support that there is positive and significant relation between foreign ownership structure and the dividends payout policy through Tobin’s Q. However, the results document significant relationship between foreign ownership structure, company size and debt ratio and dividends policy measured by return on assets (ROA).