In a highly leveraged firm, why is it better for stockholders if the firm picks a project with lower NPV and higher volatility?

The idea is that if a highly leveraged firm can choose between a project with a lower NPV and a higher volatility and a project with a higher NPV and a lower volatility, it would benefit the stockholders if the project with the lower NPV is chosen. Why is this the case?

2 Comments
 

Deserunt sed et quasi. Omnis fugit a consequatur incidunt temporibus enim. Quas ab sunt officia ea nihil corrupti. Laboriosam praesentium illo enim ut voluptatem et.

Quo accusantium autem adipisci voluptatem officia. Sunt exercitationem error pariatur ipsam recusandae eveniet ipsa. Quod reprehenderit nesciunt voluptatibus ea illum laborum et. Architecto sunt qui et sunt deleniti eos. Facere eaque impedit et minus aut. Porro sapiente in rerum perspiciatis enim.

Total Avg Compensation

August 2026 Hedge Fund

  • Portfolio Manager (9) $1,648
  • Vice President (27) $464
  • Director/MD (11) $372
  • NA (9) $320
  • Engineer/Quant (83) $287
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (26) $284
  • Manager (4) $282
  • 2nd Year Associate (32) $253
  • 1st Year Associate (76) $193
  • Analysts (233) $178
  • Intern/Summer Associate (29) $145
  • Junior Trader (5) $102
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (276) $95

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
Linda Abraham's picture
Linda Abraham
98.8