The neoclassical q-theory is a good start to understand the cross section of returns. Under constant return to scale, stock returns equal levered investment returns that are tied directly with characteristics. This equation generates the relations of average returns with book-to-market,...

We use a fully-specified neoclassical model augmented with costly external equity as a laboratory to study the relations between stock returns and equity financing decisions. Simulations show that the model can simultaneously and in many cases quantitatively reproduce: procyclical equity issuance;...

In this paper we derive a general formula for the cost of capital of government's claim (rg). Given our valuation framework that distinguishes three claimholders-equity holders, debt holders and government-we show for the models used in Myers (1974), Miles and Ezzell (1980) and Harris and...

The q-theory implies that investment is a first-order determinant of the cross section of expected returns, and that optimal investment drives the external financing anomalies. Our neoclassical model simultaneously and in many cases quantitatively reproduces: Procyclical equity issuance waves;...

More financially constrained firms are riskier and earn higher expected returns than less financially constrained firms, although this effect can be subsumed by size and book-to-market. Further, because the stochastic discount factor makes capital investment more procyclical, financial...

In this paper we investigate the theoretical relation between financial leverage and stock returns. Standard finance textbooks propose a straightforward link between capital structure and expected returns. Recent empirical work has highlighted evidence inconsistent with this view: Namely returns...

This paper uses real options theory to value an investment opportunity known as the Mediterranean-Dead Sea hydroelectric project. We employ a discrete time model to:-quantify simultaneous variation of three decision variables over the useful life of the project;-value options to: postpone the...

We estimate implied cost of equity capital for a sample of firms from 1984 to 1998 using the Ohlson and Juettner (2000) model that does not make restrictive assumptions about clean surplus and payout policies. We find that cost of equity capital is strongly positively associated with...

Recently, Easton and Sommers (2006) provide evidence of a pervasive upward bias of about 3.5 per cent in implied cost of equity estimators arising from persistent optimistic analysts' forecast of earnings. Deng, Kim and Yeo (2006) derive an estimation procedure that infers the bias in earnings...

We value a company that targets its capital structure in book-value terms. This capital structure definition provides us with a Value of Tax Shields that lies between those of Modigliani-Miller (fixed debt) and Miles-Ezzell (fixed market-value leverage ratio). If a company targets its leverage...