Quote from doublet83:
Financial theory states that a company is worth the discounted value of its future expected dividends. Even if a company like AMZN doesn't pay dividends, and no one expects it to pay dividends, this theory states that this fact does not affect the value of the stock. The cash that the company keeps on its balance sheet is simply invested, allowing the company to grow faster than it otherwise would be able to do, letting it pay more dividends in the future.
Other than tax implications, depending on what theory you are citing, dividend policy does not affect a company's value.
Various dividend discount valuation models are taught during CFA level 2 for equity valuation. Although they might be logically sound, no one applies them in the real world.
For the most part, investors in stocks don't care about dividend policy, beyond a few instances where it might be viewed as management signaling.
There are some stocks like utilities or REITS or canadian income trust funds, or MPLs, where the investor base are heavily comprised of dividend seeking investors, and in these cases investors tend to care more about dividends than usual.