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Cited by 367

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 15 of the 15 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Why Do U.S. Firms Hold So Much More Cash Than They Used To?

Open access
Bates, Thomas, Kahle, Kathleen, Stulz, Rene·2006·National Bureau of Economic Research

Abstract

The average cash to assets ratio for U.S. industrial firms increases by 129% from 1980 to 2004.Because of this increase in the average cash ratio, American firms at the end of the sample period can pay back their debt obligations with their cash holdings, so that the average firm has no leverage when leverage is measured by net debt.This change in cash ratios and net debt is the result of a secular trend rather than the outcome of the recent buildup in cash holdings of some large firms.It is concentrated among firms that do not pay dividends.The average cash ratio increases over the sample period because the cash flow of American firms has become riskier, these firms hold fewer inventories and accounts receivable, and the typical firm spends more on R&D.The precautionary motive for cash holdings appears to explain the increase in the average cash ratio.

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Metadata

Authors
Bates, T., Kahle, K., & Stulz, R.
Venue
National Bureau of Economic Research
Published
2006-09
OpenAlex
W2889965213
Cited by
367
References
15
Type
report
Language
en
Open access
green

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CoChat. (2026). Citation check: Why Do U.S. Firms Hold So Much More Cash Than They Used To? https://app.cochat.ai/papers/10.3386/w12534
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Bates, T., Kahle, K., & Stulz, R. (2006). Why Do U.S. Firms Hold So Much More Cash Than They Used To? National Bureau of Economic Research. https://doi.org/10.3386/w12534

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