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Executive Stock Options: To Expense or Not?

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  • Sanjay Deshmukh
  • Keith M. Howe
  • Carl Luft

Abstract

In analyzing the decision to expense stock options, we find a greater likelihood of options expensing for firms with greater transparency and a closer alignment of interests between managers and shareholders. These results provide indirect evidence that expensing is more likely in firms that practice good corporate governance. We show that firms are less likely to expense when option usage is higher and that this negative relation is stronger for firms that are smaller, have high growth, and are less profitable. We also find that the announcement period returns are not significantly different from zero.

Suggested Citation

  • Sanjay Deshmukh & Keith M. Howe & Carl Luft, 2006. "Executive Stock Options: To Expense or Not?," Financial Management, Financial Management Association International, vol. 35(1), pages 87-106, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:finmgt:v:35:y:2006:i:1:p:87-106
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-053X.2006.tb00132.x
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    Cited by:

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    2. Sheng‐Syan Chen & Robin K. Chou & Shu‐Fen Chou, 2009. "The Impact of Investment Opportunities and Free Cash Flow on Financial Liberalization:A Cross‐Firm Analysis of Emerging Economies," Financial Management, Financial Management Association International, vol. 38(3), pages 543-566, September.
    3. Merz, Alexander, 2017. "What have we learned from SFAS 123r and IFRS 2? A review of existing evidence and future research suggestions," Journal of Accounting Literature, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 14-33.
    4. Eugene Kang & Brian R. Tan, 2008. "Accounting Choices and Director Interlocks: A Social Network Approach to the Voluntary Expensing of Stock Option Grants," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 35(9-10), pages 1079-1102.
    5. Eugene Kang & Brian R. Tan, 2008. "Accounting Choices and Director Interlocks: A Social Network Approach to the Voluntary Expensing of Stock Option Grants," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 35(9‐10), pages 1079-1102, November.
    6. Michael K. Fung, 2009. "Is Innovativeness a Link between Pay and Performance?," Financial Management, Financial Management Association International, vol. 38(2), pages 411-429, June.

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