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The effects of social ratings on firm value

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  • Cellier, Alexis
  • Chollet, Pierre

Abstract

This paper examines, in a short-term perspective, the effects of Vigeo social ratings announcements on the firm's shareholder value. From an event study on a large sample of European firms, we show that the announcement of ratings generates a strong positive stock market reaction regardless of whether the rating is good or bad. This finding underlines the relevance of ratings and reveals the value effects of corporate social responsibility (CSR). We also find that the overall rating has no impact on shareholders’ wealth. We highlight that specific CSR dimensions drive the value effects. Some are value enhancing and others value destroying. Our study complements the literature on the complex links between socially responsible practices and firm value. It gives arguments to measure properly the benefits and risks associated with non-financial factors, and to integrate them into asset pricing models and allocation processes.

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  • Cellier, Alexis & Chollet, Pierre, 2016. "The effects of social ratings on firm value," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 656-683.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:riibaf:v:36:y:2016:i:c:p:656-683
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ribaf.2015.05.001
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    5. Ioannis Tampakoudis & Evgenia Anagnostopoulou, 2020. "The effect of mergers and acquisitions on environmental, social and governance performance and market value: Evidence from EU acquirers," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(5), pages 1865-1875, July.
    6. Erragragui, Elias, 2018. "Do creditors price firms’ environmental, social and governance risks?," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 197-207.
    7. Petridis, Konstantinos & Tampakoudis, Ioannis & Drogalas, George & Kiosses, Nikolaos, 2022. "A Support Vector Machine model for classification of efficiency: An application to M&A," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).

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