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Learn from peers? The impact of peer firms' analyst earnings forecasts on a focal firm's corporate investment efficiency

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  • He, Jie
  • Xu, Sha
  • Wang, Bin
  • Chan, Kam C.

Abstract

We explore whether a firm can learn from information on peers produced by analysts. Based on a sample of Chinese firms, we document that analyst earnings forecast accuracy (dispersion or optimism) of peer firms is positively (negatively) associated with the focal firm's investment efficiency. The effect is more salient when the focal firm operates in a competitive industry, when analysts are predicting positive earnings, when peers produce low-quality annual reports, or when the focal firm has high information asymmetry. Overall, our findings provide new insights on learning from peer information produced by a third party and show that analyst earnings forecasts have spillover effects in the product market.

Suggested Citation

  • He, Jie & Xu, Sha & Wang, Bin & Chan, Kam C., 2023. "Learn from peers? The impact of peer firms' analyst earnings forecasts on a focal firm's corporate investment efficiency," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:finana:v:89:y:2023:i:c:s1057521923002661
    DOI: 10.1016/j.irfa.2023.102750
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