Optimal Embedded Leverage for Portfolios of Commodity Trading Advisors

The chapter evaluates the profit when investing in portfolios of Commodity Trading Advisors (CTA) with optimal embedded leverage. The authors’ results support their expectation that it is possible to improve the long-term profitability of diversified CTA portfolios by obtaining optimal embedded leverage, but the improvement in profitability varies across CTA indexes. In addition, the crisis alpha feature of CTAs are considered and it is shown that diversified portfolios of CTAs can achieve a much larger crisis alpha by using optimal leverage factors. Optimal embedded leverage can also a useful tool in managing and evaluating the leverage of trend-following strategies and CTA portfolios.

Nonprofits and Pass-Throughs: Performance Comparison

This paper’s purpose is to compare nonprofits with pass-throughs in terms of valuation, leverage, and growth. To achieve this purpose, we use the Capital Structure Model. This model determines maximum firm valuation through incorporating real data (tax rates, credit spreads, and historical growth rates). Since this is the first study to offer our particular set results on valuation, leverage and growth, our findings are value-additive in terms of the comparative research on nonprofits and pass-throughs. The new and scientific value of our findings are further established by robust tests that modify values for key variables. Major findings include the following. Nonprofits have over a fifty percent valuation advantage over pass-throughs and achieve a four times greater increase in dollar value when going from nongrowth to growth. The latter accomplishments are attained with a smaller before-tax plowback ratio and less retained earnings. Such achievements occur because nonprofits are not taxed on earnings retained for growth. While nonprofits have somewhat greater optimal leverage ratios than pass-throughs, they gain a bit less in dollars added from debt unless growth rates increase as projected when tax rates are lowered. Nonprofits gain less percentage-wise from debt because their unlevered firm value is greater than pass-throughs.

The Leland–Toft optimal capital structure model under Poisson observations

We revisit the optimal capital structure model with endogenous bankruptcy first studied by Leland \cite{Leland94} and Leland and Toft \cite{Leland96}. Differently from the standard case, where shareholders observe continuously the asset value and bankruptcy is executed instantaneously without delay, we assume that the information of the asset value is updated only at intervals, modeled by the jump times of an independent Poisson process. Under the spectrally negative L\'evy model, we obtain the optimal bankruptcy strategy and the corresponding capital structure. A series of numerical studies are given to analyze the sensitivity of observation frequency on the optimal solutions, the optimal leverage and the credit spreads.

The Leland–Toft optimal capital structure model under Poisson observations

We revisit the optimal capital structure model with endogenous bankruptcy first studied by Leland \cite{Leland94} and Leland and Toft \cite{Leland96}. Differently from the standard case, where shareholders observe continuously the asset value and bankruptcy is executed instantaneously without delay, we assume that the information of the asset value is updated only at intervals, modeled by the jump times of an independent Poisson process. Under the spectrally negative L\'evy model, we obtain the optimal bankruptcy strategy and the corresponding capital structure. A series of numerical studies are given to analyze the sensitivity of observation frequency on the optimal solutions, the optimal leverage and the credit spreads.

The Leland–Toft optimal capital structure model under Poisson observations

This paper revisits the optimal capital structure model with endogenous bankruptcy, first studied by Leland (J. Finance 49:1213–1252, 1994) and Leland and Toft (J. Finance 51:987–1019, 1996). Unlike in the standard case where shareholders continuously observe the asset value and bankruptcy is executed instantaneously without delay, the information of the asset value is assumed to be updated periodically at the jump times of an independent Poisson process. Under a spectrally negative Lévy model, we obtain the optimal bankruptcy strategy and the corresponding capital structure. A series of numerical studies provide an analysis of the sensitivity, with respect to the observation frequency, of the optimal strategies, optimal leverage and credit spreads.

Asset Variance Risk Premium and Capital Structure

This article investigates how the asset-return variance risk premium changes leverage. I find that the premium reduces leverage by increasing risk-neutral bankruptcy probability and costs in a model where asset returns have stochastic variance with the risk premium. Empirically, the model calibrations verify a significant reduction in optimal leverage, closer to observed leverage than the model without the premium. In model-free regressions, I document that leverage correlates negatively with the variance premium. The highest negative correlation is among investment-grade firms with low asset beta and historical variance but high variance premiums because their assets have high exposure to the market’s variance premium.

Optimal Capital Structure and Speed of Adjustment under Hyperinflation and Dollarization

Economic challenges in Zimbabwe have resulted in firms being pushed out of their optimal leverage. Firms are faced with the need to move back to the optimal level of financing to improve their value. They tend to adjust quickly to the optimal level whenever failing to do so is costlier. This study employs a dynamic capital structure model to examine the determinants of optimal leverage and the speed of adjustment under a hyperinflation and dollarization period (2000–2016). The study shows that firms have an optimal leverage and there are costs of adjusting to this level of capital. Findings are consistent with theoretical predictions of the static trade-off theory (STT) and agency theory. The adjustment factors for all the models were found to be at least 0.475 and are higher under hyperinflation than under dollarization. Both firm and macroeconomic factors explain the optimal capital structure while the former also explains the speed of adjustment. Policies focusing on improving access to and reducing costs for finance will assist firms to maximize value as they adjust to the desired financing mix. The policies adopted may vary in response to the economic environment.

Determinan Leverage Optimal Di Bursa Efek Indonesia

Research on capital structure, recently characterized by the use of dynamic capital structure. The use of dynamic capital structure basically wants to know the existence of optimal leverage as hypothesized by Trade-Off Theory and Speed off Adjustment (SOA) to optimal leverage. This research tries to overcome this problem, by using dynamic panel data by using company characteristics and macroeconomic factors. The use of General Method of Moment (GMM) to overcome the problem of econometrics due to the use of dynamic models. Samples taken from manufacturing companies listing on the Indonesia Stock Exchange 2009-2015. The inference model and the determinant behavior of capital structure can be explained by Trade-Off Theory and Pecking Order Theory. The variable characteristics of the company and macro economy are significant and are marked according to the hypothesis. The findings of this study include: the influence of profitability, size, tangibility, growth opportunity and business risk. In addition, on average companies in Indonesia can increase their debt to utilize tax shields