Can Growth Options Explain the Trend in Idiosyncratic Risk?

Posted: 15 Dec 2008

See all articles by Charles Cao

Charles Cao

Pennsylvania State University

Timothy T. Simin

Pennsylvania State University

Jing Zhao

Portland State University - The School of Business

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Date Written: November 2008

Abstract

While recent studies document increasing idiosyncratic volatility over the past four decades, an explanation for this trend remains elusive. We establish a theoretical link between growth options available to managers and the idiosyncratic risk of equity. Empirically both the level and variance of corporate growth options are significantly related to idiosyncratic volatility. Accounting for growth options eliminates or reverses the trend in aggregate firm-specific risk. These results are robust for different measures of idiosyncratic volatility, different growth option proxies, across exchanges, and through time. Finally, our results suggest that growth options explain the trend in idiosyncratic volatility beyond alternative explanations.

Suggested Citation

Cao, Charles and Simin, Timothy T. and Zhao, Jing, Can Growth Options Explain the Trend in Idiosyncratic Risk? (November 2008). The Review of Financial Studies, Vol. 21, Issue 6, pp. 2599-2633, 2008, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1315600 or http://dx.doi.org/hhl039

Charles Cao (Contact Author)

Pennsylvania State University ( email )

Department of Finance
Smeal College of Business
University Park, PA 16802
United States
814-865-7891 (Phone)
814-865-3362 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.personal.psu.edu/qxc2/cao.html

Timothy T. Simin

Pennsylvania State University ( email )

University Park, PA 16802
United States
814-865-3457 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://timsimin.net

Jing Zhao

Portland State University - The School of Business ( email )

631 SW Harrison St.
Portland, OR 97201
United States

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