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The cost of financial flexibility: Evidence from share repurchases

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  • Bonaimé, Alice A.
  • Hankins, Kristine W.
  • Jordan, Bradford D.

Abstract

Over the last two decades, share repurchases have emerged as the dominant payout channel, offering a more flexible means of returning excess cash to investors. However, little is known about the costs associated with payout-related financial flexibility. Using a unique identification strategy, we document a significant cost. We find that actual repurchase investments underperform hypothetical investments that mechanically smooth repurchase dollars through time by approximately two percentage points per year on average. This cost of financial flexibility is correlated with earnings management, managerial entrenchment, and less institutional monitoring.

Suggested Citation

  • Bonaimé, Alice A. & Hankins, Kristine W. & Jordan, Bradford D., 2016. "The cost of financial flexibility: Evidence from share repurchases," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 345-362.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:corfin:v:38:y:2016:i:c:p:345-362
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jcorpfin.2016.02.002
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    5. Burak Pirgaip, 2021. "Pan(dem)ic reactions in Turkish stock market: evidence from share repurchases," Eurasian Economic Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 11(2), pages 381-402, June.
    6. Jo-Yu Wang & Chih-Hsuan Chang & Juo-Lien Wang, 2024. "Do Prior Financial Events to Share Repurchase Announcements Matter?," Journal of Emerging Market Finance, Institute for Financial Management and Research, vol. 23(2), pages 197-226, June.
    7. Anshu Agrawal, 2020. "Modified Total Interpretive Structural Model of Corporate Financial Flexibility," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 21(4), pages 369-388, December.
    8. Nufazil Altaf, 2024. "Working Capital Financing, Firm Performance and Financial Flexibility: Evidence from Indian Hospitality Firms," Global Business Review, International Management Institute, vol. 25(2_suppl), pages 199-210, April.
    9. Moin, Abdul & Guney, Yilmaz & Kalak, Izidin El, 2020. "In search of stock repurchases determinants in listed Indonesian firms during regulatory changes," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 176(C), pages 145-165.
    10. Ding, Xin & Ren, Yajing & Tan, Wenhao & Wu, Haomin, 2023. "Does carbon emission of firms matter for Bank loans decision? Evidence from China," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    11. Wang, Ling, 2020. "Unconventional monetary policy and stock repurchases: Firm-level evidence from a comparison between the United States and Japan," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).
    12. Geoffrey C. Friesen & Noel Pavel Jeutang & Emre Unlu, 2022. "The Effect of Unsuccessful Past Repurchases on Future Repurchasing Decisions," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 68(1), pages 716-739, January.
    13. Nicholas Clarke & Dylan Norris & Andrew Schrowang, 2024. "Share repurchases and managerial reference points," The Financial Review, Eastern Finance Association, vol. 59(1), pages 57-87, February.
    14. Adhiraj Sodhi & Aleksandar Stojanovic, 2024. "Deregulating the Volume Limit on Share Repurchases," IJFS, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-22, September.
    15. Ota, Koji & Lau, David, 2021. "Share repurchases on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Trading Network," Journal of the Japanese and International Economies, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).
    16. Yan Gu & Qianglong Zhou & Kung-Cheng Ho, 2020. "Financial Flexibility and Managerial Short-Termism," Annals of Economics and Finance, Society for AEF, vol. 21(1), pages 189-208, May.
    17. Chong-Meng, 2019. "Effect of Stock Price Information on Timing of Share Repurchases," GATR Journals jfbr155, Global Academy of Training and Research (GATR) Enterprise.
    18. Moore, David, 2023. "Strategic repurchases and equity sales: Evidence from equity vesting schedules," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Financial flexibility; Payout policy; Share repurchase; Earnings management; Corporate governance;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G30 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - General
    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance
    • G35 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Payout Policy

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