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Market value of 10-K readability and corporate cash holdings

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  • Choi, Sanghak
  • Chung, Chune Young
  • Kim, Daejin
  • Lee, Junyoup

Abstract

We investigate the effect of 10-K readability on the association between stock returns and changes in cash holdings and find that readability significantly increases the marginal value of cash holdings (MVCH). The value spread for firms with high-readability reports is about US $0.08 per dollar of cash. This effect is stronger for firms with more severe managerial agency problems, less external monitoring, and greater financial constraints. Additional analyses suggest that the direction of causality runs from readability to the MVCH. We posit that more readable 10-Ks facilitate investors’ monitoring, inducing firms’ efficient cash use.

Suggested Citation

  • Choi, Sanghak & Chung, Chune Young & Kim, Daejin & Lee, Junyoup, 2021. "Market value of 10-K readability and corporate cash holdings," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 201(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolet:v:201:y:2021:i:c:s0165176521000732
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2021.109796
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    1. Yin, Shiyan & Chevapatrakul, Thanaset & Yao, Kai, 2022. "The causal effect of improved readability of financial reporting on stock price crash risk: Evidence from the Plain Writing Act of 2010," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 216(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Readability; Marginal value of corporate cash holdings;

    JEL classification:

    • G30 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - General
    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance
    • M40 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting - - - General

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