Wealth Transfers via Equity Transactions
February 27, 2013 Leave a comment
Wealth Transfers via Equity Transactions
University of California at Berkeley – Haas School of Business
Hong Kong University of Science & Technology (HKUST) – Department of Accounting
February 15, 2013
Abstract:
Previous research indicates that firms issue (repurchase) shares when their stock is overpriced (underpriced). Such transactions transfer wealth from transacting stockholders to ongoing stockholders. We quantify the magnitude of these wealth transfers and analyze their implications. The wealth transfers are economically significant, averaging approximately 6% of pre-transaction market capitalization for equity issuers. They are particularly large for equity issuers with ex ante indications of overpricing, where they average 14% of pre-transaction market capitalization. We analyze the implications of these wealth transfers for equity valuation, corporate financial policy and value-oriented investment strategies.
