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Market timing and the debt-equity choice

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  • Elliott, William B.
  • Koëter-Kant, Johanna
  • Warr, Richard S.

Abstract

We test the market timing theory of capital structure using an earnings-based valuation model that allows us to separate equity mispricing from growth options and time-varying adverse selection; thus avoiding the multiple interpretations of book-to-market ratio. We find that equity market mispricing plays a significant, if not dominant, role in the security choice decision. Our results are robust to the inclusion of proxies for time-varying growth options and alternate methods of measuring misvaluation.

Suggested Citation

  • Elliott, William B. & Koëter-Kant, Johanna & Warr, Richard S., 2008. "Market timing and the debt-equity choice," Journal of Financial Intermediation, Elsevier, vol. 17(2), pages 175-197, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jfinin:v:17:y:2008:i:2:p:175-197
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    Cited by:

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    4. Elliott, William B. & Koeter-Kant, Johanna & Warr, Richard S., 2007. "A valuation-based test of market timing," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 13(1), pages 112-128, March.
    5. Sakshi Khanna & Amit Srivastava & Yajulu Medury, 2015. "The Effect of Macroeconomic Variables on the Capital Structure Decisions of Indian Firms: A Vector Error Correction Model/Vector Autoregressive Approach," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 5(4), pages 968-978.
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    7. Bonaimé, Alice Adams & Öztekin, Özde & Warr, Richard S., 2014. "Capital structure, equity mispricing, and stock repurchases," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 26(C), pages 182-200.
    8. Zhao, Yang & Lee, Cheng-Few & Yu, Min-Teh, 2020. "Does equity market timing have a persistent impact on capital structure? Evidence from China," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 52(1).
    9. Khalil Abbasi Museloo & Shaker Abartavi, 2017. "Incorrect Pricing Impact on Investment and the Capital Structure of Companies with Financial Constraints," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 7(2), pages 319-324.
    10. Vogt, Jan, 2023. "Managerial market timing under credit risk: How do timed buybacks and stock issuances influence the value of long-term shareholders?," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 55(C).
    11. Halil Dincer Kaya, 2017. "The Borrower Characteristics In Hot Equity Markets," Annals - Economy Series, Constantin Brancusi University, Faculty of Economics, vol. 3, pages 36-43, June.
    12. Patrice Fontaine & Sujiao Zhao, 2021. "Suppliers as financial intermediaries: Trade credit for undervalued firms," Post-Print hal-03507994, HAL.
    13. Vogt, Jan, 2021. "Managerial market timing: What is the pot size for long-term shareholders assuming firm management acts in their best interest and does have an informational advantage?," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 49(C).
    14. Winston Pontoh, 2017. "The Capital Structure: Is Debt just a Policy or Requerement?," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(2A), pages 128-139.
    15. Elliott, William B. & Prevost, Andrew K. & Rao, Ramesh P., 2009. "The announcement impact of seasoned equity offerings on bondholder wealth," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 33(8), pages 1472-1480, August.
    16. Lo Duca, Marco & Nicoletti, Giulio & Vidal Martínez, Ariadna, 2016. "Global corporate bond issuance: What role for US quantitative easing?," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 114-150.
    17. Mohammed Benlemlih & Jingwen Ge & Sujiao Zhao, 2021. "Undervaluation and non‐financial information: Evidence from voluntary disclosure of CSR news," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 48(5-6), pages 785-814, May.
    18. Jiyoon Lee, 2021. "Information Asymmetry, Mispricing, and Security Issuance," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 76(6), pages 3401-3446, December.
    19. Thomas J. O'Brien & Linda Schmid Klein & James I. Hilliard, 2007. "Capital Structure Swaps and Shareholder Wealth," European Financial Management, European Financial Management Association, vol. 13(5), pages 979-997, November.
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    21. Iqbal Hussain, Hafezali & Mohd Farid, Shamsudin & Noor H, Jabarullah, 2016. "Non Linear Speed of Adjustment to Lead Leverage Levels and the Timing Element in Equity Issues: Empirical Evidence from the UK," MPRA Paper 79261, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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