Equity Misvaluation and Default Options

62 Pages Posted: 29 Oct 2016 Last revised: 3 Feb 2018

See all articles by Assaf Eisdorfer

Assaf Eisdorfer

University of Connecticut - Department of Finance

Amit Goyal

University of Lausanne; Swiss Finance Institute

Alexei Zhdanov

Pennsylvania State University

Date Written: January 1, 2018

Abstract

We study whether default options are mispriced in equity values by employing a structural equity valuation model that explicitly takes into account the value of the option to default (or abandon the firm) and uses firm-specific inputs. We implement our model on the entire cross-section of stocks and identify both over- and underpriced equities. An investment strategy that buys undervalued stocks and shorts overvalued stocks generates an annual 4-factor alpha of about 11% for U.S. stocks. The model’s performance is stronger for stocks with higher value of default option, such as distressed or highly volatile stocks.

Keywords: Mispricing, Default Options, Stock Returns

JEL Classification: G12, G13, G31, G33

Suggested Citation

Eisdorfer, Assaf and Goyal, Amit and Zhdanov, Alexei, Equity Misvaluation and Default Options (January 1, 2018). Journal of Finance, Forthcoming, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2860888 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2860888

Assaf Eisdorfer

University of Connecticut - Department of Finance ( email )

School of Business
2100 Hillside Road
Storrs, CT 06269
United States

Amit Goyal

University of Lausanne ( email )

Batiment Extranef 226
Lausanne, Vaud CH-1015
Switzerland
+41 21 692 3676 (Phone)
+41 21 692 3435 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.hec.unil.ch/agoyal/

Swiss Finance Institute ( email )

c/o University of Geneva
40, Bd du Pont-d'Arve
CH-1211 Geneva 4
Switzerland

Alexei Zhdanov (Contact Author)

Pennsylvania State University ( email )

University Park
State College, PA 16802
United States

HOME PAGE: http://www.alexeizhdanov.com

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