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Questions and Answers
Under what condition does a firm benefit from precautionary savings?
Under what condition does a firm benefit from precautionary savings?
What was the main finding of Fazzari, Hubbard, and Petersen (1988) regarding financial constraints?
What was the main finding of Fazzari, Hubbard, and Petersen (1988) regarding financial constraints?
What critique did Kaplan and Zingales (1997) make of the findings from FHP (1988)?
What critique did Kaplan and Zingales (1997) make of the findings from FHP (1988)?
Which outcome indicates that a firm is financially constrained based on empirical evidence?
Which outcome indicates that a firm is financially constrained based on empirical evidence?
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What does the equation $2R1 + ϑ(R2 + CS) + (1 – ϑ)(CB) > (1+ϑ)(R1 + R2) + (1 – ϑ) CB$ primarily represent?
What does the equation $2R1 + ϑ(R2 + CS) + (1 – ϑ)(CB) > (1+ϑ)(R1 + R2) + (1 – ϑ) CB$ primarily represent?
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What condition must be satisfied for the investment ratio to be positive?
What condition must be satisfied for the investment ratio to be positive?
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Why might the estimated effect of cashflows on investment be negative according to FHP (1988)?
Why might the estimated effect of cashflows on investment be negative according to FHP (1988)?
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Under what circumstances does the Hayashi Theorem suggest that average and marginal Q are the same?
Under what circumstances does the Hayashi Theorem suggest that average and marginal Q are the same?
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What is the implication of firms saving precautionary cash when the probability of a good state is low?
What is the implication of firms saving precautionary cash when the probability of a good state is low?
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Which statement accurately summarizes the empirical evidence regarding Q theory?
Which statement accurately summarizes the empirical evidence regarding Q theory?
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How does dividend payout relate to a firm's financial constraints according to the empirical studies?
How does dividend payout relate to a firm's financial constraints according to the empirical studies?
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What could explain the lack of empirical evidence supporting Q theory?
What could explain the lack of empirical evidence supporting Q theory?
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What did Erickson and Whited (2000) discover about accounting for measurement error in Q?
What did Erickson and Whited (2000) discover about accounting for measurement error in Q?
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What was a key result from Peters and Taylor (2017) related to Q?
What was a key result from Peters and Taylor (2017) related to Q?
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What challenge do firms face when making investments, according to the discussed theories?
What challenge do firms face when making investments, according to the discussed theories?
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What impact do measurement errors in Q have on Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regressions?
What impact do measurement errors in Q have on Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regressions?
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What is the primary rule of thumb for making investment decisions in a firm?
What is the primary rule of thumb for making investment decisions in a firm?
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How is the discount rate (r) defined in the context of NPV?
How is the discount rate (r) defined in the context of NPV?
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What does a Tobin's Q value greater than 1 indicate about a firm?
What does a Tobin's Q value greater than 1 indicate about a firm?
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Which of the following statements about investment opportunities is correct?
Which of the following statements about investment opportunities is correct?
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What does a Q value less than 1 suggest about a firm’s assets?
What does a Q value less than 1 suggest about a firm’s assets?
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What is the capital adjustment cost associated with increasing asset investment?
What is the capital adjustment cost associated with increasing asset investment?
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In the firm's maximization problem, what is the objective function being maximized?
In the firm's maximization problem, what is the objective function being maximized?
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Which component is NOT typically factored into the calculation of Tobin's Q?
Which component is NOT typically factored into the calculation of Tobin's Q?
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Study Notes
Investment Decisions
- Firms should theoretically invest in any project with a positive net present value (NPV).
- NPV is the discounted value of all project cash flows, calculated using the opportunity cost of capital (the best alternative return firm's investors could receive elsewhere).
- Returns should be adjusted for risk differences before comparing.
Measuring Investment Opportunities
- A positive NPV suggests the value created from the investment exceeds the initial cost of capital.
- This value creation should be anticipated by stock market participants, bidding up the firm's share price even before the investment is undertaken.
- Investment opportunities can be measured by comparing the firm's market value to the purchase price of its assets.
- Tobin's Q, defined as the market value of the firm divided by the replacement cost of capital (the price firm would have to pay on the market for capital), measures this.
- A firm with Q greater than 1 generates more value using capital than other investors or firms, meaning the internal value of capital is higher than what the market is willing to pay.
- A firm with Q less than 1 is essentially wasting capital and may be better off selling assets.
Q Theory
- Q theory suggests that firms invest more when the value of existing capital (Q) is high relative to the cost of purchasing new capital.
- The numerator of Q is often measured as the firm's market capitalization plus debt.
- The denominator is typically the book value of total assets or property, plant, & equipment (PP&E).
- Book values reflect the prices the firm paid to buy assets on the market historically.
- Investment decisions are influenced by the marginal profits from one extra unit of capital.
Empirical Evidence on Q Theory
- Studies have highlighted several problems with Q theory.
- Q explains a limited portion of the variation in investment.
- Regression estimates of Q's effect are only consistent with theory if adjustment costs are significant.
- Numerous other factors are significantly related to investment.
- Findings suggest that Q matters for corporate investment, but other factors likely play a more substantial role.
Measurement Error in Q
- Measurement error can be a contributing factor to the lack of empirical evidence supporting Q theory.
- Measurement error biases the coefficient toward 0 in OLS regressions and decreases the R-squared value.
- Q likely has some measurement error.
- The market value of equity can be influenced by factors other than investment opportunities.
- Q should be based on the market value of debt, but often book value is used.
- Book value of assets is based on historical prices, which may not reflect current replacement costs.
- The value of most intangible assets is not reflected in financial statements.
Correcting for Measurement Error
- Advanced statistical techniques can be employed to remove measurement error from Q.
- Findings after removing measurement error show that R-squared more than doubles, the coefficient estimates for Q are significantly larger than in simple OLS, and estimates of other variables are small and insignificant.
Financial Constraints
- Firms must invest an initial cash amount (C0) up front, and receive cash flows in the future, but where does this C0 come from?
Precautionary Savings
- By saving, firms can buffer against future financial constraints.
- The value of the second project's return plays a role in the decision to save.
- The probability of a good state (ϑ) also plays a role, with a lower probability increasing the need for precautionary savings.
Empirical Evidence on Financial Constraints
- Early evidence suggests that financial constraints affect investment decisions.
- Firm's investment decisions can be grouped into three categories based on dividend payouts.
- The effect of cash flows is strongest for the most constrained firms and weakest for the least constrained firms.
Constraints and Precautionary Savings
- Precautionary savings can lead to a negative estimated effect of cash flows on investment.
Critique of Financial Constraint Studies
- Empirical studies have refuted the argument that financial constraints affect investment-cashflow sensitivity.
- Re-classifying firms based on discussion of constraints in their 10-K filings has challenged previous findings.
- Cash flows are often correlated with investment opportunities, potentially biasing regression estimates.
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Description
This quiz explores the fundamental concepts of investment decisions, focusing on net present value (NPV) calculations and their importance in assessing investment opportunities. It covers how positive NPV influences firm value and the significance of Tobin's Q in evaluating market performance against asset costs.
