IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/irvfin/v22y2022i3p580-596.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The effect of stock liquidity on corporate cash holdings: The real investment motive

Author

Listed:
  • Hyun Joong Im
  • Barry Oliver
  • Heungju Park

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between stock liquidity and corporate cash holdings and explores a new economic mechanism driving this relationship. Using a regression discontinuity design approach based on the annual reconstitution of the Russell 1000/2000 indices, we find that stock liquidity has a positive causal effect on corporate cash holdings. This effect is more pronounced for firms with more investment opportunities. These results suggest that enhanced stock liquidity increases corporate cash holdings by expanding the set of investment opportunities. Our evidence supports the real investment motive over the repurchase motive.

Suggested Citation

  • Hyun Joong Im & Barry Oliver & Heungju Park, 2022. "The effect of stock liquidity on corporate cash holdings: The real investment motive," International Review of Finance, International Review of Finance Ltd., vol. 22(3), pages 580-596, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:irvfin:v:22:y:2022:i:3:p:580-596
    DOI: 10.1111/irfi.12377
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/irfi.12377
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1111/irfi.12377?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Scholes, Myron & Williams, Joseph, 1977. "Estimating betas from nonsynchronous data," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 5(3), pages 309-327, December.
    2. Brogaard, Jonathan & Li, Dan & Xia, Ying, 2017. "Stock liquidity and default risk," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 124(3), pages 486-502.
    3. Alex Edmans & Vivian W. Fang & Emanuel Zur, 2013. "The Effect of Liquidity on Governance," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 26(6), pages 1443-1482.
    4. Acharya, Viral V. & Pedersen, Lasse Heje, 2005. "Asset pricing with liquidity risk," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 77(2), pages 375-410, August.
    5. Jens Ludwig & Douglas L. Miller, 2007. "Does Head Start Improve Children's Life Chances? Evidence from a Regression Discontinuity Design," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 122(1), pages 159-208.
    6. Nyborg, Kjell G. & Wang, Zexi, 2021. "The effect of stock liquidity on cash holdings: The repurchase motive," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 142(2), pages 905-927.
    7. Jarrad Harford & Sandy Klasa & William F. Maxwell, 2014. "Refinancing Risk and Cash Holdings," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 69(3), pages 975-1012, June.
    8. Alan D. Crane & Sébastien Michenaud & James P. Weston, 2016. "Editor's Choice The Effect of Institutional Ownership on Payout Policy: Evidence from Index Thresholds," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 29(6), pages 1377-1408.
    9. Opler, Tim & Pinkowitz, Lee & Stulz, Rene & Williamson, Rohan, 1999. "The determinants and implications of corporate cash holdings," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 52(1), pages 3-46, April.
    10. Butler, Alexander W. & Grullon, Gustavo & Weston, James P., 2005. "Stock Market Liquidity and the Cost of Issuing Equity," Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 40(2), pages 331-348, June.
    11. Michael Faulkender & Rong Wang, 2006. "Corporate Financial Policy and the Value of Cash," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 61(4), pages 1957-1990, August.
    12. Han, Seungjin & Qiu, Jiaping, 2007. "Corporate precautionary cash holdings," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 13(1), pages 43-57, March.
    13. Almeida, Heitor & Campello, Murillo, 2010. "Financing Frictions and the Substitution between Internal and External Funds," Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 45(3), pages 589-622, June.
    14. Jarrad Harford & Sattar A. Mansi & William F. Maxwell, 2012. "Corporate Governance and Firm Cash Holdings in the U.S," Springer Books, in: Sabri Boubaker & Bang Dang Nguyen & Duc Khuong Nguyen (ed.), Corporate Governance, edition 127, pages 107-138, Springer.
    15. Vivian W. Fang & Xuan Tian & Sheri Tice, 2014. "Does Stock Liquidity Enhance or Impede Firm Innovation?," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 69(5), pages 2085-2125, October.
    16. John R. Becker‐Blease & Donna L. Paul, 2006. "Stock Liquidity and Investment Opportunities: Evidence from Index Additions," Financial Management, Financial Management Association International, vol. 35(3), pages 35-51, September.
    17. Gerard Hoberg & Gordon Phillips & Nagpurnanand Prabhala, 2014. "Product Market Threats, Payouts, and Financial Flexibility," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 69(1), pages 293-324, February.
    18. John R. Becker-Blease & Donna L. Paul, 2006. "Stock Liquidity and Investment Opportunities: Evidence from Index Additions," Financial Management, Financial Management Association, vol. 35(3), Autumn.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Lee, Chien-Chiang & Wang, Chih-Wei & Thinh, Bui Tien & Purnama, Muhammad Yusuf Indra, 2023. "Cash holdings and cash flows: Do oil price uncertainty and geopolitical risk matter?," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 134-152.
    2. Stereńczak, Szymon & Kubiak, Jarosław, 2022. "Dividend policy and stock liquidity: Lessons from Central and Eastern Europe," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 62(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Nyborg, Kjell G. & Wang, Zexi, 2021. "The effect of stock liquidity on cash holdings: The repurchase motive," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 142(2), pages 905-927.
    2. Nyborg, Kjell & Wang, Zexi, 2019. "Corporate cash holdings: Stock liquidity and the repurchase motive," CEPR Discussion Papers 13791, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    3. Shang, Chenguang, 2020. "Trade credit and stock liquidity," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 62(C).
    4. Chang, Ching-Hung & Chen, Sheng-Syan & Chen, Yan-Shing & Peng, Shu-Cing, 2019. "Commitment to build trust by socially responsible firms: Evidence from cash holdings," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 364-387.
    5. Stereńczak, Szymon & Kubiak, Jarosław, 2022. "Dividend policy and stock liquidity: Lessons from Central and Eastern Europe," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 62(C).
    6. Jan Felix Weidemann, 2018. "A state-of-the-art review of corporate cash holding research," Journal of Business Economics, Springer, vol. 88(6), pages 765-797, August.
    7. Almaghrabi, Khadija S., 2023. "Non‐operating risk and cash holdings: Evidence from pension risk," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 152(C).
    8. Al-Hadi, Ahmed & Eulaiwi, Baban & Al-Yahyaee, Khamis Hamed & Duong, Lien & Taylor, Grantley, 2020. "Investment committees and corporate cash holdings," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    9. Chen, Jiayuan & Gong, Di & Muckley, Cal, 2020. "Stock market illiquidity, bargaining power and the cost of borrowing," Journal of Empirical Finance, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 181-206.
    10. Cheung, William Ming Yan & Im, Hyun Joong & Selvam, Srinivasan, 2023. "Stock liquidity and investment efficiency: Evidence from the split-share structure reform in China," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 56(C).
    11. Chen, Hsuan-Chi & Chou, Robin K. & Lu, Chien-Lin, 2018. "Saving for a rainy day: Evidence from the 2000 dot-com crash and the 2008 credit crisis," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 680-699.
    12. Zhuang, Yuan & Nie, Jing & Wu, Weixing, 2022. "Peer influence and the value of cash holdings," Journal of Empirical Finance, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 265-284.
    13. Monika Wieczorek-Kosmala & Joanna Błach & Joanna Trzęsiok, 2018. "Analysis of Bankruptcy Threat for Risk Management Purposes: A Model Approach," IJFS, MDPI, vol. 6(4), pages 1-17, December.
    14. Zhang, Jinjin & Chen, Huili & Zhang, Pengdong & Jiang, Min, 2022. "Product market competition and the value of corporate cash: An agency theory explanation," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    15. Li, Xiafei & Luo, Di, 2020. "Increase in cash holdings of U.S. firms: The role of healthcare and technology industries," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 286-298.
    16. Chen, Hanwen & Yang, Daoguang & Zhang, Joseph H. & Zhou, Haiyan, 2020. "Internal controls, risk management, and cash holdings," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    17. Hsuan-Chu Lin & She-Chih Chiu, 2017. "Tradeoff on corporate cash holdings: a theoretical and empirical analysis," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 49(3), pages 727-763, October.
    18. Nufazil Altaf Ahangar, 2021. "Stock liquidity and corporate debt maturity structure: Evidences from Indian firms," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 42(7), pages 1754-1764, October.
    19. Tao Chen & Jarrad Harford & Chen Lin, 2017. "Financial Flexibility and Corporate Cash PolicyAbstract: Debt capacity creates financial flexibility and collateral-based debt capacity is the least sensitive to cash flow shocks. Using variation in r," Working Papers 052017, Hong Kong Institute for Monetary Research.
    20. Muhammad Atif & Benjamin Liu & Sivathaasan Nadarajah, 2022. "The effect of corporate environmental, social and governance disclosure on cash holdings: Life‐cycle perspective," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(5), pages 2193-2212, July.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bla:irvfin:v:22:y:2022:i:3:p:580-596. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journal.asp?ref=1369-412X .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.