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The superiority and disciplining role of independent analysts

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  • Gu, Zhaoyang
  • Xue, Jian

Abstract

We show that although forecasts of independent analysts are less accurate ex post, they yield forecast errors that are more strongly associated with abnormal stock returns. This suggests that forecasts of independent analysts are superior to those of nonindependent analysts in representing ex ante market expectations. We also show that forecasts of nonindependent analysts become more accurate and less biased, and produce forecast errors more strongly associated with abnormal stock returns when independent analysts are following the same firms than when they are not. This suggests that the presence of independent analysts disciplines the behavior of nonindependent analysts.

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  • Gu, Zhaoyang & Xue, Jian, 2008. "The superiority and disciplining role of independent analysts," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 45(2-3), pages 289-316, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jaecon:v:45:y:2008:i:2-3:p:289-316
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    3. Sébastien Galanti & Anne-Gaël Vaubourg, 2020. "Unbundling financial services: The case of brokerage and investment research," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 40(1), pages 473-484.
    4. Lys, Thomas Z. & Sunder, Jayanthi, 2008. "Endogenous entry/exit as an alternative explanation for the disciplining role of independent analysts," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 45(2-3), pages 317-323, August.
    5. Elizabeth Devos & Erik Devos & Seow Eng Ong & Andrew C. Spieler, 2019. "Are REIT Investors Overly Optimistic after Equity Offerings?: Evidence from Analyst Forecast Errors," The Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics, Springer, vol. 59(2), pages 148-165, August.
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    7. Lin, Karen Jingrong & Karim, Khondkar E. & Carter, Clairmont, 2015. "Why does China's stock market have highly synchronous stock price movements? An information supply perspective," Advances in accounting, Elsevier, vol. 31(1), pages 68-79.
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    9. Lim, Youngdeok & Kim, Hyungtae, 2019. "Market reaction to optimistic bias in the recommendations of chaebol-affiliated analysts," Journal of Contemporary Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 15(2), pages 224-242.
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