Author name: Tomas Wu

Dividend policy is a strategic balancing act that reflects a company’s financial health, growth ambitions, and investor priorities. Whether through stable payouts, residual distributions, or hybrid models, firms use dividends to signal confidence, manage liquidity, and shape market perception. Influenced by profitability, cash flow, tax regimes, and shareholder preferences, dividend decisions can enhance value—especially when aligned with theories like Gordon’s or Walter’s. Yet, Modigliani and Miller remind us that in ideal markets, dividends may be irrelevant.… Read more

The cost of capital is the financial heartbeat of corporate strategy, guiding investment decisions, valuation models, and performance benchmarks. By blending the costs of equity, debt, and preferred stock into the Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC), firms assess whether projects will generate returns that exceed their financing costs. Tools like CAPM and DDM help estimate equity costs, while tax-adjusted debt rates reflect borrowing efficiency. Market conditions, company risk profiles, and global factors all shape this metric, which serves as a discount rate in NPV analyses and a hurdle for value creation.… Read more

Mergers and acquisitions are strategic power plays in the corporate world, enabling companies to scale, innovate, and reposition themselves in competitive markets. Whether through horizontal consolidation, vertical integration, or cross-sector diversification, M&A transactions aim to unlock synergies, expand reach, and acquire valuable assets or technologies. Yet behind the promise lies complexity—from valuation methods like DCF and precedent analysis to navigating cultural clashes, regulatory hurdles, and post-merger integration. As global trends shift toward ESG-driven deals and tech-fueled acquisitions, the future of M&A will favor firms that blend analytical precision with adaptive execution, turning consolidation into sustainable growth.… Read more

Financial markets and institutions are the circulatory system of the global economy, channeling capital from savers to borrowers and enabling growth, innovation, and risk management. From capital and money markets to forex and derivatives, these platforms facilitate everything from IPOs to hedging strategies, while institutions—banks, insurers, investment firms—serve as intermediaries that keep the system running. As globalization deepens and technology transforms trading, regulation and oversight become critical to maintaining stability. With fintech, blockchain, and AI reshaping access and efficiency, the financial ecosystem faces new challenges—from cybersecurity to climate risk—demanding agile, forward-thinking responses to ensure resilience and inclusivity in a rapidly evolving landscape.… Read more