This study examines the sensitivity of equity values of oil producers to changes in the uncertainty of future oil prices. We document that this sensitivity is negatively correlated with a firm's debt ratio and its production costs. These results indicate that companies that are more likely to...

"The costs of insufficient cash, referred to as "ripple effects," are discussed in detail. They arise because the firm is unable to invest in value-enhancing projects, must raise expensive external capital, or is forced to sell assets. Firms with the greatest potential to experience ripple...