Dividends are paid by companies to shareholders and act like interest payments. This means that dividends are usually viewed as investments rather than expenses, meaning that they don’t reduce the net income of a corporation. Instead, they’re classified as either capital gains or business income — dividends must be reported on Form 1040, while capital gains and business income are taxable at different rates.

The best dividend policy can be expected to provide the maximum return on investment with low risk. The goal of a dividend policy should be to provide the greatest benefit to the shareholders over time, not just at one point in time. However, dividends should also continue to be sustainable in the long term. Here is some best dividend policy.

1. Regular Dividend Policy

The default dividend policy that many companies will begin with is a regular dividend policy. This means the company will pay a regular dividend at least once yearly. A regular dividend is usually paid on the first day of the third month after the company’s financial statements are issued, although it can be paid in advance.

In some cases, dividends may be paid less frequently than once per year, but looser deadlines mean that dividends are less likely to be reduced or canceled. Many companies that follow a regular dividend policy will also provide the same amount and pay it on the exact dates each year.

2. Stable Dividend Policy

If a company’s profit is stable, it can pay higher dividends. However, stability can lead to problems as well. Companies don’t want to pay higher dividends because they will lose money. Therefore, a stable dividend policy should be used when the company’s profit is relatively stable and usually has been for at least two years.

Companies with relatively stable revenue may decrease their profits yearly, resulting in lower dividend payments. A flexible dividend policy can allow the company to make smaller dividend payments while maintaining a beneficial payout ratio.

3. Irregular Dividend Policy

A simple way to increase the dividend payout ratio of a company is to reduce it by increasing the number of dividends paid by at least 30 percent each year. Such a policy is called an irregular dividend policy because it typically doesn’t remain stable. The payout ratio will still be maintained, but the payouts will become increasingly irregular as the dividend increases.

Companies that may want to use an irregular dividend policy aren’t making much money in the first place. These companies may not make enough profit yearly to justify paying regular dividends. Increasing their dividend payout ratio can compensate for this shortfall and help maintain cash flow over time without compromising their profits, at least for a few years.

The best irregular dividend policy provides shareholders the most significant benefit over time. Companies should also pay a periodic dividend when they have sufficient capital to pay it properly.

4. Liquid Dividend Policy

A liquid dividend policy will ensure that dividends are paid at all times, regardless of what’s happening with the company’s financial health. Companies should start with a liquid dividend policy when they’re in good financial shape and have strong cash flow.

For companies that may have difficulty paying their dividends in the short term, a liquid dividend policy should be implemented to ensure long-term stability. Suppose the company’s stock price begins to drop. In that case, shareholders concerned about the dividend payment will usually sell their shares, thereby increasing the number of shares traded and lowering the stock price.

Companies with a high payout ratio will also consider using a liquid dividend policy. A high payout ratio means that there is not enough money to pay for all of the necessary expenses, including paying dividends. Those companies will also want to keep their share prices as high as possible because investors may not want to buy low-price stocks if they can’t get consistent dividends.

5. No Dividend Policy

A no dividend policy can save the company from itself for companies that are in more trouble than they realize. Companies with a no dividend policy will make all the necessary payments to keep the company afloat, especially in cases where there’s a default on loan.

A typical no dividend policy will also include managing expenses and paying employees on time. Such a policy aims to help the company get back into financial shape as quickly as possible without worrying about paying dividends during that time.

Many companies will continue to pay dividends under a no-dividend policy because they prefer not to cut their dividends and may not want to raise their payout ratio.

The best dividend policy will depend on the circumstances of each company. Companies in trouble should consider a no dividend policy to help them get back on their feet as quickly as possible.

Companies with sufficient capital and relatively stable over the past few years may want to use a stable dividend policy to ensure they can pay regular dividends while still keeping their payout ratio at a healthy level.