DryShips Inc. (NASDAQ:DRYS) has surprised the market with its announcement of a new dividend policy that will see shareholders receive a regular fixed quarterly dividend of $2.5 million. DRYS even flirted with the possibility of additional dividend above the fixed amount, depending on market conditions and financial performance. But depending on your perspective of DRYS this dividend policy can signify very different scenarios.

The Dividend

The announcement stated that for the fourth quarter of 2016, a total dividend of $2.5 million will be paid to the owners of the shares as at March 15, 2017. The actual dividend will be payable around March 31, 2017 with the exact amount of the dividend per share to be determined based on the number of shares on March 15. At Feb 7, the company had 36.5 million shares outstanding which equates to a dividend payout per share of $0.07- although this payout could be drastically reduced if the shares undergo a further dilution before March 15.

Where Is the Money?

The company is not generating any cash flow. In fact, in the last quarter DryShips reported minus $14.7 million in adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization) for its core dry bulk business. While DryShips is on the way to diversifying into the gas carrier market with the option to purchase four Very Large Gas Carriers for $334 million from private entities controlled by the CEO. One of these four options has now been exercised however the gas carrier will only be delivered in June. The result:DryShips will be paying instalments for the gas carrier which will only reap rewards later in the year.

The Bulls and the Bears

Bulls in the market believe that the dividend policy indicates that DRYS has finally decided to stop its multiple share dilutions and capital raises that have sucked value from the company. This would take some of the momentum from investors who have been busy shorting the stock as prices have dropped by an incredible 99.7% in the past year. Most recently, prices tanked by 64% following an 8-to-1 reverse split in late January.

Now the company could be preparing to concentrate on growing the business with the capital that it has raised while maintaining the current share structure. The dividend will help create a foundation for the stock price, which is expected to settle anywhere from about $1.75 to $3,25 (presuming no additional share dilutions).

On the other hand, announcing a dividend increases the liquidity of the stock, enabling financiers to exit or even short the stock. At the same time, if major shareholder Kalani Investments Ltd (which is allegedly affiliated with the CEO) continues to sell its millions of DRYS shares back into the market, the effect of this dividend policy will be further negated while Kalani benefits from selling its share at a rising share price.

Conclusion

Investors should continue to steer clear from this sinking ship and from CEO George Economou whose practice of sucking shareholder value dry is unlikely to have paused for long.

DryShips Inc is a dry bulk shipping company based in Athens, Greece. It is a Marshall Islands corporation, formed in 2004. As of June 2015, the company owns, through its subsidiaries, a fleet of 39 drybulk carriers, consisting of 13 Capesize, 24 Panamax and two Supramax vessels, which have a combined deadweight tonnage of approximately 4.3 million deadweight tonnage; six drilling units and five tankers.