The Life Cycle of Dual-Class Firm Valuation

We examine U.S. dual- and single-class firms from 1980 to 2019 and document their valuation differences over their corporate life cycle. At the IPO, dual-class firms have higher mean valuations than do single-class firms, and some evidence indicates that this premium may emanate from dual-class firm founders’ unique vision and leadership skills. As firms age, the valuation premium of dual-class firms tends to dissipate, possibly because dual-class agency problems increase due to a gradual widening of the wedge (the difference between insider voting and cash flow rights) in the post-IPO years.