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Abstract
This study examines the effect of dividend yield on the connection
between firm liquidity and firm value among companies listed on the Nairobi
Securities Exchange (NSE). It defines firm liquidity through measures such as
short-term liquidity, asset convertibility, and new debt liquidity, while
dividend yield is assessed via dividends paid, and firm value is indicated by
Tobin’s Q. The study is guided by theories including the Operating and Cash
Conversion Cycle, Dividend Signaling, and Size Effect, investigating the
influence of dividend yield on the liquidity-value relationship, which remains
inconclusive in emerging markets. Employing a positivist framework and a
descriptive design, the study analyzed panel data from 2007 to 2022,
implementing diagnostic tests for various statistical properties, followed by
regression and mediation analysis using both the Baron and Kenny method and the
Sobel test. The findings reveal that firm liquidity positively affects firm
value, but dividend yield does not mediate this relationship. Additionally,
larger firms exhibit a strengthened link between liquidity and value. The study
emphasizes the importance of liquidity for enhancing firm value and recommends
strategic management of liquidity and dividends, along with suggestions for
further investigation into sectoral and cross-country differences.
Keywords: Firm Liquidity, Dividend Yield, Firm Value, Tobin’s Q,
Panel Data, Sobel test.