The main difference between cumulative and non-cumulative preference shares stems from their treatment of unpaid dividends. Cumulative preference stocks allow for the accumulation of unpaid dividends, ensuring future compensation for the investor. Non-cumulative preference stocks do not entitle the investor to claim any missed dividend payments. In this article, we will discuss the cumulative vs. non-cumulative preference share debate in detail to assess why one is preferred over the other.

Preference shares are company shares that ensure fixed dividend payments to shareholders. Preference shareholders are given priority over common shareholders during dividend distribution and asset ownership in case of liquidation. Preference shares can be subdivided into cumulative and non-cumulative preference shares. While both are issued by companies to raise capital, each type has a different meaning. Cumulative shares are shares that entitle the shareholder to receive missed dividends from the past years before the same is paid to the common shareholders. Non-cumulative preference shares, on the other hand, do not allow payment for accumulated dividends. In other words, if the company skips a dividend payment to non-cumulative preference shareholders, these investors have to forfeit their rights to claim the unpaid dividend.

Corporations may miss out on dividend payments due to a variety of reasons including increased financial strain. Sometimes, companies refrain from paying dividends to retain profits and reinvest the same for business expansion and growth. Cumulative preferred shareholders have a legal right over these unpaid dividends. Once the company starts paying dividend arrears, payments to cumulative shareholders are prioritised.

The primary difference between cumulative and non-cumulative preference shares arises from how both handle unpaid dividends. Here’s a quick break-down of the cumulative vs. non-cumulative preference shares debate:

Accumulation of unpaid dividends

As mentioned earlier, cumulative preference shares allow for the accumulation of unpaid dividends. In other words, if the company misses on dividend payments due to any reason, this dividend income is carried forward to be paid at a later date. Unpaid dividends cannot be accumulated if the investor owns non-cumulative preference shares. In short, missed dividend income cannot be pooled and collected at a future time.

Rights of shareholders

Cumulative preference shareholders have a definite right over any and all unpaid dividends. They can exercise this right to collect a cumulative payout in the future when the company is ready to make such payments. In other words, the company cannot sidestep its responsibility to pay these accumulated dividends. However, non-cumulative preference shareholders are not entitled to a claim or right over unpaid dividends.

Risks involved

The risk quotient between owning cumulative and non-cumulative preference shares also varies. Cumulative shares are less risky than non-cumulative ones because they come with the promise of future payment. Non-cumulative preference shareholders face a higher risk because once a dividend is missed, they cannot claim it in the future. This makes non-cumulative shares less appealing to low-risk investors.

Dividend stability

Unlike common shares, where dividend payout is based on the performance of the company, preference shares carry a fixed dividend mandate. Despite this, the income stability offered by cumulative and non-cumulative preference shares differs greatly. Cumulative preference shares offer relatively steadier dividend income inflows with the guarantee of future payments if any dividend is missed. In other words, cumulative shares ensure payment security, even if it is at a later date. However, non-cumulative shares cannot accumulate dividends, making dividend income a little unpredictable.

Treatment of missed dividends

Cumulative preference shares treat missed dividends as future payments. All missed dividends are accumulated and will be collected in the future when the company resumes payment. Non-cumulative preference shares treat missed dividends as lost. They do not offer a guarantee of future compensation.

From the above discussion, the cumulative vs. non-cumulative preference share debate has become quite clear. To sum things up, cumulative preference shares gather unpaid dividends with a guarantee of clearing these backlogs once the company restarts payments. There is no guarantee of future payments for missed dividends when you invest in non-cumulative shares. Non-cumulative preference shareholders have no claim over the missed dividends. In other words, cumulative preference shares are safer and less risky, as investors have a safety net to rely on. Investors can rest assured that even if the company misses a dividend payment today, the income from the same is not lost but simply carried forward. This safety net is absent for non-cumulative preference shareholders, making such shares riskier options.

Cumulative preference shareholders have a right to claim unpaid dividend arrears as their unpaid dues are carried over. Non-cumulative preference shareholders have no such rights and must miss out on unpaid dividends. Companies generally refrain from issuing non-cumulative preference shares as these are less appealing to investors. If you are a risk-averse investor looking for relatively stable income flows, you can also consider investing in government bonds that carry the benefits of capital preservation and relatively consistent returns.

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