Journal of Corporate Finance Vol. 75 2022
Selling durables: Financial flexibility for limited cost pass-through
Abstract
We test whether limited cost pass-through encourages durable goods producers to build financial flexibility. We find that firms with more durable output have larger cash balances and marginal value of cash, lower propensity to pay dividends, and less financial leverage. The link between durable goods and financial flexibility is equally strong in low and zero leverage firms and is reduced in more concentrated industries and when the firm has captive financing activity. Consistent with high demand elasticity driving limited cost pass-through, we find that a large increase in input costs decreases markups and financial slack of durable goods firms in comparison to nondurable goods and services firms.
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.jcorpfin.2022.102228
- Volume
- 75
- Pages
- 102228
- Language
- en
- Sources
- bibtex:phds-export.bib openalex crossref