The Degree of Internationalization and the Stock Market Valuation of Earnings

Abstract

In this paper, we examine the impact of the degree of internationalization on a firm's ability to reduce risk and increase profits. Our study seeks to overcome three limitations of many previous studies on the value of internationalization: use of a single measure of internationalization, accrual-basis accounting measures of firm performance, and a small sample size. We use a multi-measure index, stock market assessment, and a large sample size of various firms. Our findings indicate that (1) a firm's degree of internationalization has a positive impact on the investor response to the earnings changes and (2) the market's positive response to the value of internationalization is confined to a high level of internationalization. Our results do not support the argument that, at high levels of internationalization, the costs of internationalization exceed the benefits.