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Buy‐Side Analysts and Earnings Conference Calls

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  • MICHAEL J. JUNG
  • M. H. FRANCO WONG
  • X. FRANK ZHANG

Abstract

Companies’ earnings conference calls are perceived to be venues for sell‐side equity analysts to ask management questions. In this study, we examine another important conference call participant—the buy‐side analyst—that has been underexplored in the literature due to data limitations. Using a large sample of transcripts, we identify 3,834 buy‐side analysts from 701 institutional investment firms who participated (i.e., asked a question) in 13,332 conference calls to examine the determinants and implications of their participation. Buy‐side analysts are more likely to participate when sell‐side analyst coverage is low and dispersion in sell‐side earnings forecasts is high, consistent with buy‐side analysts participating when a company's information environment is poor. Institutional investors trade more of a company's stock in the quarters in which their buy‐side analysts participate in the call. Finally, we find evidence that buy‐side analyst participation is associated with company‐level absolute changes in future stock price, trading volume, institutional ownership, and short interest.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael J. Jung & M. H. Franco Wong & X. Frank Zhang, 2018. "Buy‐Side Analysts and Earnings Conference Calls," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 56(3), pages 913-952, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:joares:v:56:y:2018:i:3:p:913-952
    DOI: 10.1111/1475-679X.12180
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Chen, Yong & Kelly, Bryan & Wu, Wei, 2020. "Sophisticated investors and market efficiency: Evidence from a natural experiment," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 138(2), pages 316-341.
    3. Call, Andrew C. & Sharp, Nathan Y. & Shohfi, Thomas D., 2021. "Which buy-side institutions participate in public earnings conference calls? Implications for capital markets and sell-side coverage," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    4. Call, Andrew C. & Emett, Scott A. & Maksymov, Eldar & Sharp, Nathan Y., 2022. "Meet the press: Survey evidence on financial journalists as information intermediaries," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 73(2).
    5. Duan, Lini & Li, Lingyi & Park, Kyung-Hye & Wu, Di, 2023. "Muddy the waters to conceal information? Evidence from firms' inconsistent answers during Q&As," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).
    6. Brown, Lawrence D. & Call, Andrew C. & Clement, Michael B. & Sharp, Nathan Y., 2019. "Managing the narrative: Investor relations officers and corporate disclosure✰," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 67(1), pages 58-79.
    7. Bingxu Fang & Ole-Kristian Hope & Zhongwei Huang & Rucsandra Moldovan, 2020. "The effects of MiFID II on sell-side analysts, buy-side analysts, and firms," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 25(3), pages 855-902, September.
    8. De Franco, Gus & Shohfi, Thomas & Xu, Da & Zhu, Zhiwei (Vivi), 2023. "Fixed income conference calls," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 75(1).

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