The Effects of Green Innovation on Stock Liquidity: Evidence from US Companies

This study investigates whether green innovation (GI) enhances stock liquidity by mitigating information asymmetry. Using a hand-collected panel of 4752 unique U.S. publicly listed firms from 2010 to 2024, we employ OLS regressions to show that GI is associated with significantly higher stock liquidity. Our empirical evidence indicates that the relation between GI and market liquidity is highly contingent on firms’ market and accounting environments. Specifically, the liquidity-enhancing effect of GI is stronger for firms facing higher exposure to climate change risk and environmental regulatory uncertainty, where green signaling is most valuable. Furthermore, we find that a strong stakeholder orientation both stimulates green innovation and amplifies its positive impact on stock liquidity. Finally, the liquidity benefits of GI are more pronounced among firms adopting conservative financial reporting practices, suggesting that reporting conservatism mitigates the endogenous risks associated with GI and enhances the credibility of innovation-related disclosures. Overall, our findings establish a robust link between product market sustainability and financial market efficiency, highlighting the role of green innovation in reducing information frictions.