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The timing and consequences of seasoned equity offerings: A regression discontinuity approach

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  • Dittmar, Amy
  • Duchin, Ran
  • Zhang, Shuran

Abstract

The likelihood of seasoned equity offerings (SEOs) jumps discontinuously when the stock price equals the most recent equity offer price. Anchoring on the last offer price holds after considering executive turnovers, stock splits, earnings management, or dividend adjustments. Using a fuzzy regression discontinuity design around this cutoff, which exploits local randomness in stock prices, we investigate the consequences of anchoring in SEOs. We find significant increases in cash holdings and acquisitions of lower quality, with no real effects on investment or employment. Overall, we provide some of the cleanest estimates, to date, of the timing and causal effects of SEOs.

Suggested Citation

  • Dittmar, Amy & Duchin, Ran & Zhang, Shuran, 2020. "The timing and consequences of seasoned equity offerings: A regression discontinuity approach," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 138(1), pages 254-276.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jfinec:v:138:y:2020:i:1:p:254-276
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jfineco.2020.04.017
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    2. 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.
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    6. Li, Fengfei & Lin, Ji-Chai & Lin, Tse-Chun & Shang, Longfei, 2023. "Behavioral bias, distorted stock prices, and stock splits," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    7. Li, Fengfei & Lin, Chen & Lin, Tse-Chun, 2021. "Salient anchor and analyst recommendation downgrade," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    8. Hennessy, Christopher A. & Chemla, Gilles, 2022. "Signaling, instrumentation, and CFO decision-making," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 144(3), pages 849-863.
    9. Huang, Qiongyu & Zhang, Ruiyao & Li, Siyao & Li, Jingjing & Yao, Qiong, 2024. "The role of financial advisorʼs industry expertise in M&A quality: Evidence from goodwill impairment," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 89(PB), pages 216-231.
    10. Yang, Baochen & Ye, Tao & Ma, Yao, 2022. "Financing anomaly, mispricing and cross-sectional return predictability," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 579-598.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Anchoring; Cash; Real effects; Investment; Behavioral finance;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G30 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - General
    • G31 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Capital Budgeting; Fixed Investment and Inventory Studies
    • 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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