The dividend question has been brought up before. Someone on this board asked management directly and the answer he got was pretty much "that's the way it is".
1) Maybe it's to keep the stock price up, but that would be silly because they have Eddie Lampert and Bruce Berkowitz as their biggest holders and these guys don't care about their stocks in their portfolios dropping (if you haven't noticed), and they are THE investor base. Oh and not to mention, Warren Buffett. My guess is if they cut the dividend they would have no problem finding enough buyers for their stock. Arguably the stock would go up because they'd be retaining all that capital free of dividend tax.
As far as the dividend is concerned, the reason for the dividend is quite simple. They are required to distribute 90% of its taxable income otherwise the trust will have to pay tax on its income.
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/857REIT Qualification
We elected to be treated as a REIT commencing with the taxable year ended December 31, 2015 and expect to continue to operate so as to qualify as a REIT. So long as we qualify as a REIT, we generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on net taxable income that we distribute annually to our shareholders. In order to qualify as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes, we must continually satisfy tests concerning, including, but not limited to, the real estate qualification of sources of our income, the composition and values of our assets, the amounts we distribute to our shareholders and the diversity of ownership of our stock. In order to comply with REIT requirements, we may need to forego otherwise attractive opportunities and limit our expansion opportunities and the manner in which we conduct our operations. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Status as a REIT.”
REIT distribution requirements could adversely affect our ability to execute our business plan.
REIT distribution requirements could adversely affect our ability to execute our business plan.
We generally must distribute annually at least 90% of our REIT taxable income, determined without regard to the dividends paid deduction and excluding any net capital gains, in order for us to qualify to be taxed as a REIT (assuming that certain other requirements are also satisfied) so that U.S. federal corporate income tax does not apply to earnings that we distribute. To the extent that we satisfy this distribution requirement and qualify for taxation as a REIT but distribute less than 100% of our REIT taxable income, determined without regard to the dividends paid deduction and including any net capital gains, we will be subject to U.S. federal corporate income tax on our undistributed net taxable income. In addition, we will be subject to a 4% nondeductible excise tax if the actual amount that we distribute to our shareholders in a calendar year is less than a minimum amount specified under U.S. federal tax laws. We intend to, at a minimum, make distributions to our shareholders to comply with the REIT requirements of the Code.
Note 8 – Income Taxes
The Company has elected to be taxed as a REIT as defined under Section 856(c) of the Code for federal income tax purposes and expects to continue to operate to qualify as a REIT. To qualify as a REIT, the Company must meet a number of organizational and operational requirements, including a requirement to currently distribute at least 90% of its adjusted REIT taxable income to its shareholders.
As a REIT, the Company generally will not be subject to federal income tax on taxable income that is distributed to its shareholders. If the Company fails to qualify as a REIT or does not distribute 100% of its taxable income in any taxable year, it will be subject to federal taxes at regular corporate rates (including any applicable alternative minimum tax) and may not be able to qualify as a REIT for four subsequent taxable years.
Even if the Company qualifies for taxation as a REIT, the Company is subject to certain state, local and Puerto Rico taxes on its income and property, and to federal income and excise taxes on its undistributed taxable income.
http://www.snl.com/Cache/c38312861.html
