Information Quality, Growth Options, and Average Future Stock Returns

Abstract

This study finds that the association between future stock returns and information quality depends on how option-like is the firm's equity. Firms that have more growth options are more option-like. The association between future stock returns and information quality is negative (positive) for those firms with equity that is least (most) option-like. These results are consistent with traditional asset pricing theory and are robust to numerous empirical specifications. Collectively, these findings offer a theoretically-based and empirically-supported explanation for why prior studies, that do not condition on the option-like nature of equity, have documented either a positive or no association between information quality and future average stock returns.

Keywords: Information Quality, Growth Options, Stock Returns, Valuation, Cost of Capital

JEL Classification: G10, G11, G14, M41