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Journal of Accounting and Economics Vol. 42 No. 1-2 2006

Asymmetric sensitivity of CEO cash compensation to stock returns

Andrew J. Leone1; Joanna S. Wu2; Jerold L. Zimmerman2

1 Pennsylvania State University · 2 University of Rochester

Abstract

We document that CEO cash compensation is twice as sensitive to negative stock returns as it is to positive stock returns. Since stock returns include both unrealized gains and unrealized losses, we expect cash compensation to be less sensitive to stock returns when returns contain unrealized gains (positive returns) than when returns contain unrealized losses (negative returns). This is consistent with boards of directors exercising discretion to reduce costly ex post settling up in cash compensation paid to CEOs.

DOI
10.1016/j.jacceco.2006.04.001
Volume
42
Issue
1-2
Pages
167-192
Language
en
Sources
bibtex:phds-export.bib openalex crossref

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