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ESG Controversies, ESG Disclosure and Analyst Forecast Accuracy

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  • Schiemann, Frank
  • Tietmeyer, Raphael

Abstract

We investigate whether an environmental social governance (ESG) disclosure moderates the relation between ESG controversies and analyst forecast accuracy. The previous literature has shown that ESG controversies increase uncertainty about a firm's future prospects, while ESG disclosure decreases this uncertainty. We therefore take the next step and integrate ESG controversies, ESG disclosure and uncertainty into one model. Our study is based on 8,369 firm-year observations across 51 countries from 2008 to 2017, containing data from RepRisk, Bloomberg and the Institutional Brokers' Estimate System. We find that analyst forecast errors are generally higher for firms with higher exposure to ESG controversies. More importantly, we establish ESG disclosure as a moderator that mitigates the strength of the relation between ESG controversies and analyst forecast errors. Additionally, we identify that the most important pillar for the relation derives from social controversies and disclosure.

Suggested Citation

  • Schiemann, Frank & Tietmeyer, Raphael, 2022. "ESG Controversies, ESG Disclosure and Analyst Forecast Accuracy," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finana:v:84:y:2022:i:c:s1057521922003234
    DOI: 10.1016/j.irfa.2022.102373
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    2. Zhang, Qiyu & Ding, Rong & Chen, Ding & Zhang, Xiaoxiang, 2023. "The effects of mandatory ESG disclosure on price discovery efficiency around the world," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    3. Cicchiello, Antonella Francesca & Cotugno, Matteo & Foroni, Cristian, 2023. "Does competition affect ESG controversies? Evidence from the banking industry," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 55(PB).
    4. Chunying Zhang & Xiaohui Wu, 2023. "Analyst Coverage and Corporate ESG Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-21, August.
    5. Gil Cohen, 2023. "The impact of ESG risks on corporate value," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 60(4), pages 1451-1468, May.
    6. Konstantinos Petridis & Nikolaos Kiosses & Ioannis Tampakoudis & Fouad Ben Abdelaziz, 2023. "Measuring the efficiency of mutual funds: Does ESG controversies score affect the mutual fund performance during the COVID-19 pandemic?," Operational Research, Springer, vol. 23(3), pages 1-29, September.
    7. Jiajia Liu & Zhenzhen Ge & Yahan Wang, 2024. "Role of environmental, social, and governance rating data in predicting financial risk and risk management," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(1), pages 260-273, January.
    8. Becchetti, Leonardo & Cucinelli, Doriana & Ielasi, Federica & Rossolini, Monica, 2023. "Corporate social irresponsibility: The relationship between ESG misconduct and the cost of equity," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).

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