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Asymmetries in the Firm’s Use of Debt to Changing Market Values

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  • Stephen P. Ferris
  • Jan Hanousek
  • Anastasiya Shamshur
  • Jiri Tresl

Abstract

Using a large sample of U.S. firms over the period, 1984 to 2013, this study examines the relation between market and book leverage ratios. Unlike Welch (2004) who contends that changes in market leverage do not induce adjustments in book leverage, we find an asymmetric effect. That is, firms adjust their book leverage relative to market leverage only when the changes in market leverage are due to increases in the value of the firm’s equity. No adjustment is observed when firm equity values decrease. We observe a number of interesting differences between those firms that make large and small capital structure adjustments in response to changing equity prices. Our results are consistent with Barclay, Morellec and Smith (2006) who argue that the optimal level of debt decreases in the presence of corporate growth options.

Suggested Citation

  • Stephen P. Ferris & Jan Hanousek & Anastasiya Shamshur & Jiri Tresl, 2017. "Asymmetries in the Firm’s Use of Debt to Changing Market Values," CERGE-EI Working Papers wp598, The Center for Economic Research and Graduate Education - Economics Institute, Prague.
    • Handle: RePEc:cer:papers:wp598
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    5. Li, Shasha & Yang, Biao, 2023. "Green investing, information asymmetry, and capital structure," IWH Discussion Papers 20/2023, Halle Institute for Economic Research (IWH).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    market leverage; book leverage; capital structure; adjustment speed;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models

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