The impacts of credit rating changes on firm’s dividend payout and investment policies – evidence in Thailand

Abstract

This paper studies relationship between impacts of change in credit rating on firm's dividend payout and investment policies. We use data from listed companies in Stock Exchange of Thailand during 2000 - 2021. This paper applies fixed effect ordinary least squares to evaluate impacts of change in credit rating. From this paper, downgraded firms will decrease dividend payout and investment. However, upgraded firms will increase dividend payout and investment. Moreover, this paper studies relationship between impacts of change in credit rating on firm's investment efficiency. From this paper, downgraded firms will overinvest and upgraded firms will underinvest. This paper provides information or guidances to debtholders and shareholders to evaluate the firm is worth to invest.