Suppose capital gains are taxed at 28% and realized income is taxed at 40%. The tax preference theory implies that as the dividend pay-out ratio is increased, the stock price:
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A. B. C. D.B
Since the capital gains tax rate is lower than the realized income tax rate, investors would prefer to defer the realization of this income through the capital gains component. Hence, increasing the payout ratio will make the stock less attractive and depress the price.