The Role of Dividend Payout in the Determination of the Relationship Between Earnings Before Interest and Tax Cash Flow From Operations, Capital Expenditures and Firm Sustainable Cash Flows: A Case Of Non-Financial Firms

The prime objective of the current study is to determine the predictive ability to earnings before interest and tax, cash flow from operations, dividend payout, and capital expenditures for free cash flows. In addition to the current study is also intended to highlight the moderating role of dividend payout predictive ability to earnings before interest and tax, cash flow from operations, and capital expenditures for free cash flows. To achieve the objective of the study the data of 100 listed non-financial firms are collected from the annual report of the firms listed on the Iraq Stock Exchange. The data is collected over a period of six years from 2012-2017. To achieve the first set of objective regarding the direct results we have chosen OLS as a final statistical test after undergoing basic diagnostic analysis. To achieve the second set of objectives regarding the indirect effect of dividend payout, we have used the hierarchical multiple regression models.The statistical software, STATA is used for the analysis purpose. The findings of the study have shown a great deal of agreement with hypothesized results and also provided support to the pecking order theory and theory of free cash flow. The findings of the study will be helpful for policymakers, investors, scholars, and students in understanding the key factors which affect the free cash flow decisions and determine its predictability.