Google is currently sitting on $50 billion in cash. Should the company pay a dividend? In this video, Andrew Tonner looks at why he thinks it won’t happen. For starters, even though Google can fund much of its research activities with its current cash flow, that $50 billion reserve is a nice backstop. Furthermore, paying a dividend may cause investors to perceive Google less as a cutting-edge growth company and more as a mature tech company. With projections of 20% annual growth for the next several years, that’s not a perception Google wants to promote.

In time, Google may grow its bank account to the point where investors insist on a dividend, but Andrew says that time is far in the future.

As one of the most dominant Internet companies ever, Google has made a habit of driving strong returns for its shareholders. However, like many other Web companies, it’s also struggling to adapt to an increasingly mobile world. Despite gaining an enviable lead with its Android operating system, the market isn’t sold. That’s why it’s more important than ever to understand each piece of Google’s sprawling empire. In The Motley Fool’s new premium research report on Google, we break down the risks and potential rewards for Google investors. Simply click here now to unlock your copy of this invaluable resource.

var FoolAnalyticsData = FoolAnalyticsData || []; FoolAnalyticsData.push({ eventType: “TickerReportPitch”, contentByline: “Andrew Tonner“, contentId: “cms.31968”, contentTickers: “NASDAQ:AAPL, NASDAQ:GOOG”, contentTitle: “Should Google Pay a Dividend?”, hasVideo: “True”,

From: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2013/04/14/should-google-pay-a-dividend/