Do exchange traded funds affect corporate cash holdings?

Abstract

We examine the effects of equity ownership by exchange traded funds (ETFs) on corporate cash holdings. We find that firms increase their cash holdings in response to higher anticipated risks generated by ETFs. To establish a causal interpretation, we use the Russell 1000/2000 index reconstitution as an instrument for ETF ownership. We further show that shareholders place a higher value on the additional cash held by firms with higher ETF ownership. These findings are more pronounced among financially constrained firms. Overall, our results suggest that firms hold more precautionary cash to mitigate future funding needs due to higher ETF-induced risks.