Despite the importance of the topic, however, there appears to be essentially no evidence on the link between option grants and firm riskiness. Guay (1997) finds, in 1988 data (which largely predates the option explosion) that firms appear to grant options more frequently in companies with growth opportunities, which is consistent with the explanation that firms may attempt to use options to increase risk-taking. Likewise, Tufano (1998) finds evidence in gold mines that managers with more options hedge gold price risk less. Using data from 1978 through 1982, DeFusco et al. (1990) find a positive stock market reaction and a negative bond.
