Case Name :      Daktronics (E): Dividend Policy in 2010

Authors :           Thomas J. Cook

Source :             North American Case Research Association (NACRA)

Case ID :            NA0240

Discipline :        Finance

Case Length :    26 pages

Solution sample availability : YES

Plagiarism : NO (100% Original work)

In early March 2010, Bill Ritterath, Chief Financial Officer of Daktronics, Inc., was meeting in his office with Jim Morgan, CEO, and Alered (Al) Kurtenbach, Chairman of the Board, about increasing dividend payments to shareholders. Daktronics was the world’s leading supplier of electronic scoreboards, large electronic display systems, and digital messaging solutions for use in sports, transportation and communications. The company had been going through a difficult period the past three years with the downturn in the national economy and the sudden reversal in the company’s operating and financial performance. Sales were projected by security analysts to fall from a high of approximately $581 million in 2009 to an estimated value of $424 million for fiscal year 2010 ending in May [1]. Stock price had also fallen from a high of $38.66 per share on December 1, 2006 to $7.72 per share on March 3, 2010. But with the economy showing some signs of recovering from the recession, Dr. Kurtenbach thought it was time to review Daktronics’ current dividend policy: “We can afford to return some additional cash to shareholders given our confidence that the company is turning around and business is improving.” Cash balances were growing rapidly and the outlook for future cash flows was positive. In making the decision, Dr. Kurtenbach wanted it to be based on an assessment of the company’s current cash position and future cash flow projections: “I don’t want this dividend to reward short- term holders at the expense of our long-term shareholders” Dr. Kurtenbach asked Mr. Ritterath to make a recommendation at the next Board meeting (in four weeks) on a new dividend distribution, including both the amount and form of the distribution.