The effect of SEC regulatory oversight on implied cost of equity

Abstract

We examine the effect of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) oversight on the cost of equity. We argue that companies near regulatory oversight by the SEC are subject to increased scrutiny. Such heightened scrutiny, which is associated with enhanced disclosure quality, ultimately leads to a reduction in the cost of equity. We find empirical evidence supporting this hypothesis. Importantly, the cost of equity declines significantly when firms relocate their headquarters close to SEC office. Our results suggest that SEC effective external monitoring lowers the cost of equity for firms with weak governance.