The effect of stock liquidity on investment efficiency under financing constraints and asymmetric information: Evidence from the United States

Abstract

Abstract We examine whether the association between stock liquidity and investment efficiency is more pronounced for firms with more financial constraints and information asymmetry problems. The results show that the effect of higher stock liquidity on lowering under (over)‐investment is more pronounced for firms with more financial constraints and information asymmetry problems as proxied by younger and higher business risk firms, respectively. We also find similar results for firms with lower institutional ownership, more external financing dependence and higher idiosyncratic risks. The findings collectively suggest that the effect of stock liquidity in our setting is more pervasive for firms with more financial constraints and information asymmetry problems.