Share Issuance and Cross-Sectional Returns: International Evidence

McLean, R. David; Pontiff, Jeffrey; Watanabe, Akiko

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Share Issuance and Cross-Sectional Returns: International Evidence

Journal of Financial Economics (JFE), Forthcoming

48 Pages Posted: 22 Aug 2007 Last revised: 27 Jan 2013

See all articles by R. David McLean

R. David McLean

Georgetown University - McDonough School of Business

Akiko Watanabe

University of Alberta - School of Business; University of Alberta - Department of Finance and Statistical Analysis

Date Written: July 7, 2008

Abstract

Share issuance predicts cross-sectional returns in a non-U.S. sample of stocks from 41 different countries. Issuance predictability has greater statistical significance than either size, or momentum, and is similar to book-to-market. As in the U.S., the international issuance effect is robust across both small and large firms. Unlike the U.S., the effect is driven more by low returns after share creation rather than positive returns following share repurchases. Issuance return predictability is stronger in countries with greater issuance activity, greater stock market development, and stronger investor protection. The results suggest that the share issuance effect is related to the ease with which firms can issue and repurchase their shares.

Keywords: Return Predictability, Market Efficiency, International Asset Pricing, Corporate Finance

JEL Classification: G10, G30, F30

Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation

McLean, R. David and Pontiff, Jeffrey and Watanabe, Akiko, Share Issuance and Cross-Sectional Returns: International Evidence (July 7, 2008). Journal of Financial Economics (JFE), Forthcoming, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1008312