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Motives for corporate cash holdings: the CEO optimism effect

Author

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  • Winifred Huang-Meier

    (Aston University)

  • Neophytos Lambertides

    (Cyprus University of Technology)

  • James M. Steeley

    (Aston University)

Abstract

We examine the chief executive officer (CEO) optimism effect on managerial motives for cash holdings and find that optimistic and non-optimistic managers have significantly dissimilar purposes for holding more cash. This is consistent with both theory and evidence that optimistic managers are reluctant to use external funds. Optimistic managers hoard cash for growth opportunities, use relatively more cash for capital expenditure and acquisitions, and save more cash in adverse conditions. By contrast, they hold fewer inventories and receivables and their precautionary demand for cash holdings is less than that of non-optimistic managers. In addition, we consider debt conservatism in our model and find no evidence that optimistic managers’ cash hoarding is related to their preference to use debt conservatively. We also document that optimistic managers hold more cash in bad times than non-optimistic managers do. Our work highlights the crucial role that CEO characteristics play in shaping corporate cash holding policy.

Suggested Citation

  • Winifred Huang-Meier & Neophytos Lambertides & James M. Steeley, 2016. "Motives for corporate cash holdings: the CEO optimism effect," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 47(3), pages 699-732, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:rqfnac:v:47:y:2016:i:3:d:10.1007_s11156-015-0517-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s11156-015-0517-1
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    3. Ali Ataullah & Andrew Vivian & Bin Xu, 2018. "Optimistic Disclosure Tone and Conservative Debt Policy," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 54(4), pages 445-484, December.
    4. Audrey Wenhsin Hsu & Sophia Hsintsai Liu, 2018. "Parent-subsidiary investment layers and the value of corporate cash holdings," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 51(3), pages 651-681, October.
    5. Michael Kinney & Harrison Liu, 2018. "Corporate responses to the repatriation incentives and domestic production activities deduction," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 50(2), pages 623-651, February.
    6. Huixiang Zeng & Limin Zheng & Xiaoyu Li & Yutong Zhang & Linrong Chen, 2023. "Are optimistic CEOs and pessimistic CFOs the best partners? Evidence from corporate cash holdings," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-19, December.
    7. Ma-Ju Wang & Xuan-Qi Su & Hong-Da Wang & Yan-Shing Chen, 2017. "Directors’ education and corporate liquidity: evidence from boards in Taiwan," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 49(2), pages 463-485, August.
    8. Qiao, Penghua & Long, Yang & Fung, Hung-Gay & Kao, Erin Hui-Chuan, 2022. "Narcissistic leaders and corporate cash Holdings: Evidence in China," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 59(C).
    9. Kenneth Yung & Xiang Long, 2022. "CEO overconfidence and the adjustment speed of leverage and cash: evidence on cash is not the same as negative debt," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 63(2), pages 1081-1108, August.
    10. Ashfaq Habib & M. Ishaq Bhatti & Muhammad Asif Khan & Zafar Azam, 2021. "Cash Holding and Firm Value in the Presence of Managerial Optimism," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-18, August.
    11. Sanaz Aghazadeh & Lili Sun & Qian Wang & Rong Yang, 2018. "Investors’ perception of CEO overconfidence: evidence from the cost of equity capital," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 51(4), pages 1129-1150, November.
    12. Tosun, Onur Kemel & El Kalak, Izidin & Hudson, Robert, 2022. "How female directors help firms to attain optimal cash holdings," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    13. Joel Kiplagat Tuwey & Vincent Ngeno, 2019. "Does CEO Traits Influence Innovation? Evidence from the Kenya Banking Sector," Journal of Accounting, Business and Finance Research, Scientific Publishing Institute, vol. 7(2), pages 98-106.
    14. Yasser Alhenawi & Martha Stilwell, 2017. "Value creation and the probability of success in merger and acquisition transactions," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 49(4), pages 1041-1085, November.
    15. Ivan E. Brick & Rose C. Liao, 2017. "The joint determinants of cash holdings and debt maturity: the case for financial constraints," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 48(3), pages 597-641, April.
    16. Tobias Heizer & Laura R. Rettig, 2020. "Top management team optimism and its influence on firms' financing and investment decisions," Review of Financial Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 38(4), pages 601-622, October.
    17. Huiqi Gan, 2019. "Does CEO managerial ability matter? Evidence from corporate investment efficiency," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 52(4), pages 1085-1118, May.
    18. Mei-Chen Lin & Po-Hsin Ho & Hsiang-Lin Chih, 2019. "Effects of managerial overconfidence on analyst recommendations," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 53(1), pages 73-99, July.
    19. Houdou Basse Mama & Stefan Mueller & Ulrich Pape, 2017. "What’s in the news? The ambiguity of the information content of index reconstitutions in Germany," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 49(4), pages 1087-1119, November.
    20. Chiu, Chun-Ju & Ho, Amy Yueh-Fang & Tsai, Li-Fang, 2022. "Effects of financial constraints and managerial overconfidence on investment-cash flow sensitivity," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 135-155.
    21. Jose Miranda-Lopez & Svetlana Orlova & Li Sun, 2019. "CEO network centrality and corporate cash holdings," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 53(4), pages 967-1003, November.
    22. Hsuan-Chu Lin & She-Chih Chiu, 2017. "Tradeoff on corporate cash holdings: a theoretical and empirical analysis," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 49(3), pages 727-763, October.
    23. Jennifer Kunz & Lara Sonnenholzner, 2023. "Managerial overconfidence: promoter of or obstacle to organizational resilience?," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 17(1), pages 67-128, January.
    24. Thi Tuyet Dao, Nhung & Guney, Yilmaz & Hudson, Robert, 2023. "Managerial overconfidence and corporate cash holdings: Evidence from primary and secondary data," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    25. Bishal BC & Thuy Simpson, 2023. "How do firms learn? Evidence from corporate cash holdings during the COVID‐19 pandemic," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 63(1), pages 77-108, March.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Cash holdings; Liquidity; Cash holdings motive; CEO optimism;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G30 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - General
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • G02 - Financial Economics - - General - - - Behavioral Finance: Underlying Principles

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