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Corporate capital structure actions

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  • Frank, Murray Z.
  • Shen, Tao

Abstract

This paper is a study of the financing actions by firms to adjust leverage: debt reductions, stock sales, debt issues, and stock purchases. Each type of action is positively autocorrelated. The standard empirical models of corporate leverage produce leverage targets that do not correctly predict actual debt issues and stock sales. Firm-specific time-series regressions with the logarithm of firm assets and market-to-book as regressors, correctly predict these patterns. The estimates imply that on average firms adjust toward their target much faster than generally understood, closing about half of the leverage gap in a year.

Suggested Citation

  • Frank, Murray Z. & Shen, Tao, 2019. "Corporate capital structure actions," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 384-402.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbfina:v:106:y:2019:i:c:p:384-402
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbankfin.2019.07.014
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    2. Albert Danso & Samuel Fosu & Samuel Owusu‐Agyei & Collins G. Ntim & Emmanuel Adegbite, 2021. "Capital structure revisited. Do crisis and competition matter in a Keiretsu corporate structure?," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 26(4), pages 5073-5092, October.
    3. Peter M. Demarzo & Zhiguo He, 2021. "Leverage Dynamics without Commitment," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 76(3), pages 1195-1250, June.
    4. He, Wen & Hu, Maggie Rong & Mi, Lin & Yu, Jin, 2021. "How stable are corporate capital structures? International evidence," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    5. Dawood Ashraf & Mohsin Khawaja & M. Ishaq Bhatti, 2022. "Raising capital amid economic policy uncertainty: an empirical investigation," Financial Innovation, Springer;Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, vol. 8(1), pages 1-32, December.
    6. Enzo Dia & Marco Rispoli, 2022. "Investment, Implicit Debt Targets and Debt Maturity," CRANEC - Working Papers del Centro di Ricerche in Analisi economica e sviluppo economico internazionale crn2204, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Centro di Ricerche in Analisi economica e sviluppo economico internazionale (CRANEC).
    7. María T. Tascón & Paula Castro & Adrián Ferreras, 2021. "How does a firm's life cycle influence the relationship between carbon performance and financial debt?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(4), pages 1879-1897, May.
    8. Amini, Shahram & Elmore, Ryan & Öztekin, Özde & Strauss, Jack, 2021. "Can machines learn capital structure dynamics?," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    9. Hong Chen & Murray Zed Frank, 2022. "Equilibrium Defaultable Corporate Debt and Investment," Papers 2202.05885, arXiv.org.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Corporate leverage target; Stock sales; Stock purchases; Debt issues; Debt reductions;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C38 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Classification Methdos; Cluster Analysis; Principal Components; Factor Analysis
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill

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