2. Other dividend policy issues

The term clientele effect refers to the tendency of firms to attract investors who like their dividend policies. Three potential investors are described in the table. Indicate which type of firms they are most likely to be attracted to.

Potential Investors	Types of Firms
Stockholders in their peak earning years
Investors who have a preference for current investment income
Retired individuals, pension funds, and university endowment funds

Primatech Goods Corp. is a typical company that is very concerned with meeting investors expectations and keeping investors happy. Its earnings tend to fluctuate from year to year because of the nature of the business the company is in. Which of these statements most likely describes Primatech Goods Corp.s dividend policy?

Primatech Goods Corp. will be willing to increase its dividend only if it believes that it will be able to maintain the dividend increase in future years.

Primatech Goods Corp. will increase its dividends in years when it has high earnings so that it can distribute excess free cash flows to investors, even if it means that the firm will have to reduce its dividend in subsequent years.