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Investment Timing for Dynamic Business Expansion

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  • George W. Blazenko
  • Andrey D. Pavlov

Abstract

We investigate the timing of business expansion. With an indefinite sequence of growth opportunities that have constant returns to scale, current investment neither displaces nor impairs future returns. In a dynamic setting with expansion restricted to a fraction of firm size, the endogenously determined cost of capital uniformly exceeds the value maximizing return threshold for expansion. Taking this into account, a manager accelerates investment to facilitate larger and more valuable future investments when earnings stochastically improve. This result is the opposite of deferral that the investment literature recommends due to irreversibility. This means that the managerial application of the cost of capital as an expansion hurdle rate is improperly conservative.

Suggested Citation

  • George W. Blazenko & Andrey D. Pavlov, 2009. "Investment Timing for Dynamic Business Expansion," Financial Management, Financial Management Association International, vol. 38(4), pages 837-860, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:finmgt:v:38:y:2009:i:4:p:837-860
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-053X.2009.01058.x
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    Cited by:

    1. George W. Blazenko & Andrey D. Pavlov, 2010. "Investment Timing for New Business Ventures," Journal of Entrepreneurial Finance, Pepperdine University, Graziadio School of Business and Management, vol. 14(3), pages 37-68, Fall.
    2. Yufen Fu & George W. Blazenko, 2015. "Returns for Dividend-Paying and Non Dividend Paying Firms," The International Journal of Business and Finance Research, The Institute for Business and Finance Research, vol. 9(2), pages 1-20.
    3. Guthrie, Graeme, 2012. "Uncertainty and the trade-off between scale and flexibility in investment," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 36(11), pages 1718-1728.
    4. Fu, Yufen & Blazenko, George W., 2017. "Normative portfolio theory," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 240-251.

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