Capital Market Imperfections and the Sensitivity of Investment to Stock Prices
46 Pages Posted: 17 Feb 2005
Date Written: July 10, 2007
Abstract
Prior studies argue that investment by undervalued firms that require external equity is particularly sensitive to stock prices in irrational capital markets. We present a model in which investment can appear to be more sensitive to stock prices when capital markets are rational, but subject to imperfections such as debt overhang, information asymmetries, and financial distress costs. Our empirical tests support the rational (but imperfect) capital markets view. Specifically, investment-stock price sensitivity is related to firm leverage, financial slack, and probability of financial distress, but is not related to proxies for firm undervaluation. Because, in our model, stock prices reflect the NPVs of investment opportunities, our results are consistent with rational capital markets improving the allocation of capital by channeling more funds to firms with positive NPV projects.
Keywords: Investment policy, financing policy, capital market imperfections
JEL Classification: G12, G14, G31, G32
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation
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