Name two patterns of cash flows for a share of common stock. How does the market determine the value of the most common cash flow pattern for common stock?
Cash flows for a share of general stock consist of dividend payments and the price received for the eventual sale of the share. Common stock valuation is complex by the fact that common stock dividends are difficult to predict compared to the interest and principal payments on a bond, or dividends on preferred stock. Indeed, corporations may pay general stock dividends irregularly or not pay dividends at all.
As with preferred stock and bonds, the market values common stock by evaluate the present value of the expected future cash flows from the common stock.