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The Speed of Adjustment to the Target Market Value Leverage Is Slower Than You Think

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  • Yin, Qie Ellie
  • Ritter, Jay R.

Abstract

In the capital structure literature, speed of adjustment (SOA) estimates are similar whether book or market leverage is used. This robustness is suspect, given the survey evidence that firms target their book leverage and the empirical evidence that they don’t issue securities to offset market leverage changes caused by stock price changes. We show that existing market SOA estimates are substantially upward biased due to the passive influence of stock price fluctuations. Controlling for this bias, the SOA estimate is 16% for book leverage and 10% for market leverage, implying that the trade-off theory is less important than previously thought.

Suggested Citation

  • Yin, Qie Ellie & Ritter, Jay R., 2020. "The Speed of Adjustment to the Target Market Value Leverage Is Slower Than You Think," Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 55(6), pages 1946-1977, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:jfinqa:v:55:y:2020:i:6:p:1946-1977_6
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Obaid Ur Rehman & Xiaoxing Liu & Kai Wu & Junfeng Li, 2023. "Customer concentration, leverage adjustments, and firm value," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 63(2), pages 2035-2079, June.
    2. Li, Mingming & Chiang, Yao-Min & Liu, Haiming, 2023. "Employment protection and leverage adjustment speed: Evidence from China," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    3. Do, Trung K. & Huang, Henry Hongren & Ouyang, Puman, 2022. "Product market threats and leverage adjustments," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    4. Im, Hyun Joong & Faff, Robert & Ha, Chang Yong, 2022. "Uncertainty, investment spikes, and corporate leverage adjustments," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    5. Francesco Rocciolo & Andrea Gheno & Chris Brooks, 2024. "CEO overcaution and capital structure choices," The Financial Review, Eastern Finance Association, vol. 59(3), pages 719-743, August.
    6. Tongxia Li & Chun Lu, 2023. "Local social environment and the speed of leverage adjustment," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 63(2), pages 1919-1952, June.
    7. Trung K. Do & Henry Hongren Huang & Te-Chien Lo, 2023. "Does corporate social responsibility affect leverage adjustments?," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 60(4), pages 1569-1604, May.
    8. Brian Clark, 2022. "Valuing the speed of adjustment of capital structure," Journal of Financial Research, Southern Finance Association;Southwestern Finance Association, vol. 45(4), pages 855-879, December.
    9. Ruwani Fernando, Jayasuriya Mahapatabendige & Li, Leon & Hou, Greg, 2021. "Heterogeneity in capital structure adjustment revisited: Default versus non-default firms and short versus long time horizon," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 185-204.
    10. Niu, Yuhao & Wang, Sai & Wen, Wen & Li, Sifei, 2023. "Does digital transformation speed up dynamic capital structure adjustment? Evidence from China," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    11. Liu, Yi & Wu, Kai & Ruan, Sirui & Kassar, Maher, 2024. "Supplier concentration and the speed of capital structure adjustment," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).

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