The Variability of IPO Initial Returns

Michelle Lowry (), Micah S. Officer and G. William Schwert

No 12295, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: The monthly volatility of IPO initial returns is substantial, fluctuates dramatically over time, and is considerably larger during "hot" IPO markets. Consistent with IPO theory, the volatility of initial returns is higher among firms whose value is more difficult to estimate, i.e., among firms with higher information asymmetry. Our findings highlight underwriters' difficulty in valuing companies characterized by high uncertainty, and, as a result, raise serious questions about the efficacy of the traditional firm commitment underwritten IPO process. One implication of our results is that alternate mechanisms, such as auctions, may be beneficial, particularly for firms that value price discovery over the auxiliary services provided by underwriters.

JEL-codes: G14 G24 G32 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2006-06
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cfn, nep-fin, nep-fmk and nep-rmg
Note: AP
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (15)

Published as Michelle Lowry & Micah S. Officer & G. William Schwert, 2010. "The Variability of IPO Initial Returns," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 65(2), pages 425-465, 04.

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