We show that analyst coverage proxies contain information about expected returns. We decompose analyst coverage into abnormal and expected components using a simple characteristic-based model and show that firms with abnormally high analyst coverage subsequently outperform firms with abnormally low coverage by approximately 80 basis points per month. We also show abnormal coverage rises following exogenous shocks to underpricing and predicts improvements in firms’ fundamental performance, suggesting that return predictability stems from analysts more heavily covering underpriced stocks. Our findings highlight the usefulness of analysts’ actions in expected return estimations, and a potential inference problem when coverage proxies are used to study information asymmetry and dissemination.
Uncovering expected returns: Information in analyst coverage proxies
Published 2017 in Journal of Financial Economics
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- Publication year
2017
- Venue
Journal of Financial Economics
- Publication date
2017-05-01
- Fields of study
Business, Economics
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Semantic Scholar
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