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Limited investor attention, relative fundamental strength, and the cross-section of stock returns

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  • Zhu, Zhaobo
  • Sun, Licheng
  • Yung, Kenneth
  • Chen, Min

Abstract

We explore the underlying reasons for the apparent mispricing of firms based on fundamental information. We document that a relative fundamental strength strategy that buys (sells) firms with strong (weak) fundamentals is highly profitable for up to three years. The results cannot be explained by either price or earnings momentum, are robust to risk adjustments based on standard asset pricing models, and survive a battery of robustness tests. The strategy also works better among small firms, as well as firms with low analyst coverage and a high probability of informed trading. Our empirical findings support the hypotheses of limited investor attention and informed trading.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhu, Zhaobo & Sun, Licheng & Yung, Kenneth & Chen, Min, 2020. "Limited investor attention, relative fundamental strength, and the cross-section of stock returns," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 52(4).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:bracre:v:52:y:2020:i:4:s0890838919300848
    DOI: 10.1016/j.bar.2019.100859
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    Cited by:

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    2. Zhaobo Zhu & Wenjie Ding & Yi Jin & Dehua Shen, 2023. "Dissecting the Idiosyncratic Volatility Puzzle: A Fundamental Analysis Approach," Post-Print hal-04194180, HAL.
    3. Liu, Chunyuan & Han, Liyan & Chu, Gang, 2023. "The effect of overnight corporate announcements on price discovery," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 53(C).
    4. Wenwen Liu & Jinyu Yang & Jingrui Chen & Lei Xu, 2023. "How Social-Network Attention and Sentiment of Investors Affect Commodity Futures Market Returns: New Evidence From China," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(1), pages 21582440231, January.
    5. Xu, Rong & Liu, Yaodong & Hu, Nan & Guo, Jie (Michael), 2022. "What drives individual investors in the bear market?," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 54(6).
    6. Meng, Yongqiang & Shen, Dehua & Xiong, Xiong, 2023. "When stock price crash risk meets fundamentals," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    7. Zhu, Zhaobo & Sun, Licheng & Yung, Kenneth, 2020. "Fundamental strength strategy: The role of investor sentiment versus limits to arbitrage," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    8. Bozok, İhsan & Özyıldırım, Süheyla, 2022. "Firm centrality and limited attention," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 483-500.
    9. Goodell, John W. & Kumar, Satish & Li, Xiao & Pattnaik, Debidutta & Sharma, Anuj, 2022. "Foundations and research clusters in investor attention: Evidence from bibliometric and topic modelling analysis," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 511-529.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Limited investor attention; Informed trading; Fundamental investing; Long-term reversal;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates
    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading

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