We investigate the impact of the likeability and pronounceability of stock ticker symbols on firm value. Using a unique, comprehensive dataset with hand-collected ratings of ticker symbols, we find that higher likeability of ticker symbols leads to higher Tobin's Q. The pronounceability of...

We investigate the role of labor unions in the performance of venture capital (VC)-backed firms. Using a large sample of initial public offering firms from 1983 to 2013, we find that VC-backed firms in highly unionized industries have lower Tobin's Q and are less likely to survive. This effect...

A considerable amount of research has been devoted to why R2 differs across firms or markets, although little attention has been paid to the consequences of this difference. We fill this gap by investigating how differing R2 affects investors' assessment of firm value. Using a sample of 90,111...

Building upon labor market theory, we investigate whether under- or over-investing in CEOs (i.e., strategically paying above or below a CEO's predicted labor market compensation rate) affects long-term firm value and whether there are diminishing returns to these investments. Our results...