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Do Firms Buy Their Stock at Bargain Prices? Evidence from Actual Stock Repurchase Disclosures

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  • Azi Ben-Rephael
  • Jacob Oded
  • Avi Wohl

Abstract

Using new monthly data, we investigate open-market repurchase executions of US firms. We find that firms repurchase at prices that are significantly lower than average market prices. This price discount is negatively related to size and positively related to market-to-book ratio. Firms’ repurchase activity is followed by a positive and significant abnormal return. Importantly, the market response occurs when firms disclose their actual repurchase data in earnings announcements, and this positive response is followed by a 1-month drift. Consistent with these results, we find that insider trading is positively related to actual repurchases.

Suggested Citation

  • Azi Ben-Rephael & Jacob Oded & Avi Wohl, 2014. "Do Firms Buy Their Stock at Bargain Prices? Evidence from Actual Stock Repurchase Disclosures," Review of Finance, European Finance Association, vol. 18(4), pages 1299-1340.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:revfin:v:18:y:2014:i:4:p:1299-1340.
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    Cited by:

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    6. Gyimah, Daniel & Siganos, Antonios & Veld, Chris, 2021. "Effects of financial constraints and product market competition on share repurchases," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    7. Bong Soo Lee & Nathan Mauck, 2018. "Informed Repurchases, Information Asymmetry and the Market Response to Open Market Share Repurchases," Review of Pacific Basin Financial Markets and Policies (RPBFMP), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 21(03), pages 1-32, September.
    8. Nicholas Clarke & Dylan Norris & Andrew Schrowang, 2024. "Share repurchases and managerial reference points," The Financial Review, Eastern Finance Association, vol. 59(1), pages 57-87, February.
    9. Hillert, Alexander & Maug, Ernst & Obernberger, Stefan, 2016. "Stock repurchases and liquidity," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 119(1), pages 186-209.
    10. Gow-Cheng Huang & Kartono Liano & Ming-Shiun Pan, 2023. "Open-market stock repurchases, insider trading, and price informativeness," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 60(4), pages 1495-1513, May.
    11. Drousia, Angeliki & Episcopos, Athanasios & Leledakis, George N., 2019. "Market reaction to actual daily share repurchases in Greece," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 267-277.
    12. Wang, Zigan & Yin, Qie Ellie & Yu, Luping, 2021. "Real effects of share repurchases legalization on corporate behaviors," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 140(1), pages 197-219.
    13. Gyoshev, Stanley B. & Kaplan, Todd R. & Szewczyk, Samuel H. & Tsetsekos, George P., 2021. "Why do investment banks buy put options from companies?," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    14. Nyborg, Kjell & Wang, Zexi, 2019. "Corporate cash holdings: Stock liquidity and the repurchase motive," CEPR Discussion Papers 13791, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    15. Ni‐Yun Chen & Chi‐Chun Liu, 2021. "Share repurchases and market signaling: Evidence from earnings management," International Review of Finance, International Review of Finance Ltd., vol. 21(4), pages 1203-1224, December.
    16. Ingolf Dittmann & Amy Yazhu Li & Stefan Obernberger & Jiaqi Zheng, 2022. "The corporate calendar and the timing of share repurchases and equity compensation," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 21-101/IV, Tinbergen Institute.
    17. Sonika, Rohit & Shackleton, Mark B., 2020. "Buyback behaviour and the option funding hypothesis," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    18. Kumar, Praveen & Langberg, Nisan & Oded, Jacob & Sivaramakrishnan, K., 2017. "Voluntary disclosure and strategic stock repurchases," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 63(2), pages 207-230.
    19. 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.
    20. Wang, Ling, 2020. "Unconventional monetary policy and stock repurchases: Firm-level evidence from a comparison between the United States and Japan," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).
    21. Dittmar, Amy & Field, Laura Casares, 2015. "Can managers time the market? Evidence using repurchase price data," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 115(2), pages 261-282.
    22. Chen, Ni-Yun & Liu, Chi-Chun, 2019. "Open-market block share repurchases probability, frequency and timing," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 278-296.
    23. Wang, Jin-Ying, 2023. "Tax clientele and share repurchase execution," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 168-176.
    24. Bonaimé, Alice A. & Hankins, Kristine W. & Jordan, Bradford D., 2016. "The cost of financial flexibility: Evidence from share repurchases," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 345-362.

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