Intangible Intensity and Stock Price Crash Risk
60 Pages Posted: 16 Jan 2020 Last revised: 19 Jun 2020
Date Written: June 19, 2020
Abstract
We evaluate the association between intangible intensity and stock price crash risk for U.S. listed firms from 1983 to 2017. The results show that intangible-intensive firms are associated with high crash risk. The decomposition of intangible intensity identifies goodwill as the driving force and documents its predictability for future impairment events. Moreover, intangible intensity affects stock price crash risk mainly through increased information asymmetry, and the positive association increases with stock price synchronicity, CEO risk-taking incentives, and shareholder litigation risk. Our findings demonstrate the fragility of intangible assets and provide implications for financial regulation and portfolio management.
Keywords: Intangible intensity, Information asymmetry, Crash risk
JEL Classification: G10, G11, G14
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation