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Alphabetic Bias, Investor Recognition, and Trading Behavior

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  • Heiko Jacobs
  • Alexander Hillert

Abstract

Extensive research has revealed that alphabetical name ordering tends to provide an advantage to those positioned in the beginning of an alphabetical listing. This article is the first to explore the implications of this alphabetic bias in financial markets. We find that US stocks that appear near the top of an alphabetical listing have about 5–15% higher trading activity and liquidity than stocks that appear toward the bottom. The magnitude of these results is negatively related to firm visibility and investor sophistication. International evidence and fund flows further indicate that ordering effects can affect trading activity and liquidity.

Suggested Citation

  • Heiko Jacobs & Alexander Hillert, 2016. "Alphabetic Bias, Investor Recognition, and Trading Behavior," Review of Finance, European Finance Association, vol. 20(2), pages 693-723.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:revfin:v:20:y:2016:i:2:p:693-723.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/rof/rfv060
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Debraj Ray & Arthur Robson, 2018. "Certified Random: A New Order for Coauthorship," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 108(2), pages 489-520, February.
    3. Moon, Sue H. & Zhou, Mingming & Zhu, Yun, 2023. "What’s in a name? Leaders’ names, compensation, and firm performance," Journal of Financial Stability, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    4. Dierick, Nicolas & Heyman, Dries & Inghelbrecht, Koen & Stieperaere, Hannes, 2019. "Financial attention and the disposition effect," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 163(C), pages 190-217.
    5. Harris, Mark N. & Novarese, Marco & Wilson, Chris M., 2022. "Being in the right place: A natural field experiment on the causes of position effects in individual choice," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 194(C), pages 24-40.
    6. Li, Ang & Li, Ben, 2021. "Alphabetic norm and research output," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 185(C), pages 50-60.
    7. Jordan Moore, 2020. "Glamour among value: P/E ratios and value investor attention," Financial Management, Financial Management Association International, vol. 49(3), pages 673-706, September.
    8. Aouadi, Amal & Arouri, Mohamed & Roubaud, David, 2018. "Information demand and stock market liquidity: International evidence," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 194-202.
    9. Baer, Naomi & Barry, Erica & Smith, Gary, 2020. "The name game: The importance of resourcefulness, ruses, and recall in stock ticker symbols," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 410-413.
    10. Andreas Oehler & Julian Schneider, 2023. "Social trading: do signal providers trigger gambling?," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 17(4), pages 1269-1331, May.
    11. Aymen Karoui & Sadok El Ghoul, 2022. "Fund names versus family names: Implications for mutual fund flows," The Financial Review, Eastern Finance Association, vol. 57(3), pages 509-531, August.
    12. Li, Jiyuan & Li, Zihui & Zhang, Min, 2023. "CFOs’ facial trustworthiness and bank loan contracts," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 332-357.
    13. Merkle, Christoph & Sextroh, Christoph J., 2021. "Value and momentum from investors’ perspective: Evidence from professionals’ risk-ratings," Journal of Empirical Finance, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 159-178.
    14. Cheng, Hua & Hu, Cui & Li, Ben G., 2020. "Lexicographic biases in international trade," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    15. Qiu, Jiayue & Wu, Hai & Zhang, Lijuan, 2021. "In name only: Information spillovers among Chinese firms with similar stock names during earnings announcements," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    16. Schneider, Julian & Oehler, Andreas, 2021. "Competition for visibility: When do (FX) signal providers employ lotteries?," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    17. Florian Röder & Andreas Walter, 2019. "What Drives Investment Flows Into Social Trading Portfolios?," Journal of Financial Research, Southern Finance Association;Southwestern Finance Association, vol. 42(2), pages 383-411, July.
    18. Eran Rubin & Amir Rubin, 2021. "On the economic effects of the text completion interface: empirical analysis of financial markets," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 31(3), pages 717-735, September.
    19. Xing, Xuejing & Anderson, Randy I. & Hu, Yan, 2016. "What׳s a name worth? The impact of a likeable stock ticker symbol on firm value," Journal of Financial Markets, Elsevier, vol. 31(C), pages 63-80.
    20. Hu, Cui & Li, Ben G., 2021. "Chinese lexicography and stock trading," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 44-59.
    21. Salisu, Afees A. & Vo, Xuan Vinh, 2020. "Predicting stock returns in the presence of COVID-19 pandemic: The role of health news," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    22. Chenjun Fang & Ning Zhu, 2019. "Name complexity, cognitive fluency, and asset prices," Review of Financial Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 37(1), pages 168-196, January.

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