Financing, dividend and compensation policies subsequent to a shift in the investment opportunity set

Abstract

Summarizes previous research on the impact of the investment opportunity set (IOS) on firm financing, dividend and compensation policies, develops hypotheses on the effects of IOS changes on these three areas and tests them using 1980‐1989 data from a sample of US firms moving high and low IOS rankings (and vice versa) plus a control (stable) group. Explains the sample selection method and shows that most declining IOS firms were small, high‐tech firms; firms dealing in food and consumer products showed increasing IOS; and control firms were mostly from capital intensive industries. Finds that rising IOS firms generally reduced their dividends and market debt‐to‐equity ratio. Adds that all three groups increased their use of stock option plans but this was only significant for the IOS rising firms. Briefly comments on the underlying reasons for the findings and their implications for further research.