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The Effect of Stock Liquidity on Cash Holdings: The Repurchase Motive

Author

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  • Kjell G. Nyborg

    (University of Zurich - Department of Banking and Finance; Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR); Swiss Finance Institute)

  • Zexi Wang

    (University of Bern)

Abstract

We show that enhanced stock liquidity increases a firm’s propensity to hold cash using tick-size decimalization for identification. Our finding is surprising in light of the view that improved stock liquidity reduces financial constraints. As an explanation, we propose that there is a repurchase motive for holding cash. Higher stock liquidity strengthens this incentive. Consistent with this perspective, we show that firms with more liquid stock increase cash holdings relatively more around the introduction of safe harbor rules for repurchases. With respect to the effect of stock liquidity on cash holdings, therefore, our findings suggest that the repurchase motive dominates the real investments motive. We also show that this effect is not influenced by a firm’s relative ability to access to credit markets.

Suggested Citation

  • Kjell G. Nyborg & Zexi Wang, 2019. "The Effect of Stock Liquidity on Cash Holdings: The Repurchase Motive," Swiss Finance Institute Research Paper Series 19-30, Swiss Finance Institute, revised Dec 2020.
    • Handle: RePEc:chf:rpseri:rp1930
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    Cited by:

    1. Liu, Huilong & Xie, Jing & Yang, Yanning, 2024. "Government data opening and corporate cash holdings: Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment in China," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 1394-1414.
    2. Im, Hyun Joong & Selvam, Srinivasan & Tan, Kelvin J.K., 2024. "Effect of stock liquidity on the economic value of patents: Evidence from U.S. patent data," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    3. Xiaobing Lai & Lei Quan & Chong Guo & Fan Zhang, 2025. "Can ESG reconcile the conflicting motives of cash holding? Evidence from China," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 68(4), pages 1719-1756, April.
    4. Li, Xin & Xu, Zihan & Mei, Dexiang & Wang, Yu, 2025. "Optimal share repurchase decision model for retailers under supply chain collaboration," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    5. Ling, Chuanqi & Dong, Dayong & Yang, Jinyu & Cao, Jiawei, 2025. "In government-supported academic institutions we trust: Enterprise postdoctoral programmes and stock liquidity," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 104(PA).
    6. Pham, Thu Phuong & Singh, Harminder & Vu, Van Hoang, 2023. "The impact of bank loan announcements on stock liquidity," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 848-864.
    7. Spiropoulos, Helen & Zhao, Ruoyun, 2023. "Stock liquidity, cash flow sensitivity and the value of cash," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 1565-1581.
    8. Sadok El Ghoul & Omrane Guedhami & Hyunseok Kim & Jungwon Suh, 2024. "The persistence and consequences of share repurchases," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 51(1-2), pages 431-472, January.
    9. Huang, Can & Huang, Hung-Yi & Ho, Kung-Cheng, 2024. "Media coverage and stock liquidity: Evidence from China," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 89(PA), pages 665-682.
    10. Chen, Mingqin & Xie, Jing & Li, Yue, 2022. "Heterogeneity of dividend smoothing: A strategic response to peer competition in China," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    11. Stereńczak, Szymon & Kubiak, Jarosław, 2022. "Dividend policy and stock liquidity: Lessons from Central and Eastern Europe," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 62(C).
    12. Boubaker, Sabri & Eshraghi, Arman & Liu, Yifan, 2024. "Stock Liquidity Sidedness and Share Repurchase," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 95(PB).
    13. Vuong, Thi Huong Giang & Nguyen, Van Phuc & Nguyen, Huu Manh, 2025. "Does stock liquidity matter for corporate cash holdings? Insights from a transition economy," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    14. Ma, Rufei & Fu, Xinxin & Ji, Qiang & Zhai, Pengxiang, 2024. "Do climate-exposed firms hold more cash? Global evidence," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 237(C).
    15. Peiqiong Wang & Xianhua Zhang & Taozhi Wang & Zilu Wan, 2023. "Executive compensation controls and corporate cash holdings," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 18(9), pages 1-26, September.
    16. Mengqin Zhang & Yi He & Surui Zhang & Xiang Zhang & Stavros Sindakis & Saloome Showkat, 2024. "RETRACTED ARTICLE: Stock Liquidity and Investment Efficiency: Evidence from the New Regulation of Insider Selling in China," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 15(2), pages 8563-8587, June.
    17. Hyun Joong Im & Barry Oliver & Heungju Park, 2022. "The effect of stock liquidity on corporate cash holdings: The real investment motive," International Review of Finance, International Review of Finance Ltd., vol. 22(3), pages 580-596, September.
    18. Pan Xu & Jun He & Daojuan Wang & Sofia A. Johan & Siwei Lin, 2024. "Could the simultaneous persistence of greater cash holdings and interest‐bearing debts affect stock price crash risk?," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(3), pages 3226-3262, July.
    19. Bratten, Brian & Huang, Meng & Jenkins, Nicole Thorne & Xie, Hong, 2025. "Mandatory disclosures and opportunism: Evidence from repurchases," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 80(1).
    20. Xu, Sha & Wu, Dejun, 2023. "Centralized Drug Procurement and asymmetric earnings management: Evidence from China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 58(PA).
    21. Ryosuke Fujitani & Masazumi Hattori & Tomohide Mineyama, 2024. "Passive and Proactive Motivations of Cash Holdings," Working Papers e200, Tokyo Center for Economic Research.
    22. Alomran, Abdulaziz Ahmed & Alsubaiei, Bader Jawid, 2022. "Oil price uncertainty and corporate cash holdings: Global evidence," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    23. Dang, Man & Puwanenthiren, Premkanth & Nguyen, Manh Toan & Hoang, Viet Anh & Mazur, Mieszko & Henry, Darren, 2022. "Does managerial tone matter for stock liquidity? Evidence from textual disclosures," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 48(C).
    24. Wang, Di & Guo, Liangju & Xing, Saipeng, 2024. "Compulsory liability insurance and excess cash holdings: Evidence from China," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • G35 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Payout Policy
    • G10 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - General (includes Measurement and Data)

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