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Do Investors exaggerate corporate ESG information? Evidence of the ESG momentum effect in the Taiwanese market

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  • Chen, Hong-Yi
  • Yang, Sharon S.

Abstract

As environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors become increasingly important in the business sector, investors pay more attention to corporate ESG information. Integrating ESG factors into the investment process has transformed from a niche to mainstream activity. This study demonstrates that investors systematically exaggerate corporate ESG information, leading to ESG momentum effects in financial markets. Specifically, investors exhibit optimistic responses to good news about companies with higher ESG scores but pessimistic responses to bad news about companies with lower ESG scores. Consistent with the overreaction hypothesis, the empirical results show that an ESG momentum strategy can lead to substantial profits in the short run and reversals in the long run. Moreover, this study reveals that investors overreact to the environmental factor more than social or governance factors.

Suggested Citation

  • Chen, Hong-Yi & Yang, Sharon S., 2020. "Do Investors exaggerate corporate ESG information? Evidence of the ESG momentum effect in the Taiwanese market," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:pacfin:v:63:y:2020:i:c:s0927538x19306493
    DOI: 10.1016/j.pacfin.2020.101407
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    Cited by:

    1. Abhishek Behl & P. S. Raghu Kumari & Harnesh Makhija & Dipasha Sharma, 2022. "Exploring the relationship of ESG score and firm value using cross-lagged panel analyses: case of the Indian energy sector," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 313(1), pages 231-256, June.
    2. Wang, Kai & Li, Tingting & San, Ziyao & Gao, Hao, 2023. "How does corporate ESG performance affect stock liquidity? Evidence from China," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    3. Shuxia Zhang & Xiangyang Yin & Liping Xu & Ziyu Li & Deyue Kong, 2022. "Effect of Environmental, Social, and Governance Performance on Corporate Financialization: Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-20, August.
    4. Dongyang Zhang & Cao Wang & Yu Dong, 2023. "How Does Firm ESG Performance Impact Financial Constraints? An Experimental Exploration of the COVID-19 Pandemic," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 35(1), pages 219-239, February.
    5. Yuexiang Yang & Zhihui Du & Zhen Zhang & Guanqun Tong & Rongxi Zhou, 2021. "Does ESG Disclosure Affect Corporate-Bond Credit Spreads? Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-15, July.
    6. Manseek Choi & Soonwook Hong, 2022. "Another Form of Greenwashing: The Effects of Chaebol Firms’ Corporate Governance Performance on the Donations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-12, March.
    7. Khan, Muhammad Arif, 2022. "ESG disclosure and Firm performance: A bibliometric and meta analysis," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).
    8. Dhasmana, Samriddhi & Ghosh, Sajal & Kanjilal, Kakali, 2023. "Does investor sentiment influence ESG stock performance? Evidence from India," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 37(C).
    9. Eiji Yamamura, 2021. "The Effect of Providing Peer Information on Evaluation for Gender Equalized and ESG Oriented Firms: An Internet Survey Experiment," Papers 2105.12292, arXiv.org.
    10. Liu, Xufeng & Wan, Die, 2023. "Retail investor trading and ESG pricing in China," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    11. Lianggui Liao & Chan Wang & Hong-Xing Wen & Pu-Yan Nie & Ying Huang, 2023. "The Impact and Mechanism of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Corporate Financing: Evidence from Listed Companies in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-21, January.
    12. Shaista Wasiuzzaman & Ali Uyar & Cemil Kuzey & Abdullah S. Karaman, 2022. "Corporate social responsibility: Is it a matter of slack financial resources or strategy or both?," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 43(6), pages 2444-2466, September.
    13. Charney S. Akala & Taryn Neuhaus & Indrani O' Leary-Govender, 2022. "A Systematic Review of Sustainable Investment Approaches," International Journal of Economics and Finance, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 14(12), pages 1-72, December.
    14. Parichat Sinlapates & Surachai Chancharat, 2022. "Contrarian Profits in Thailand Sustainability Investment-Listed versus in Stock Exchange of Thailand-Listed Companies," Risks, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-12, December.
    15. Jiahui Su & Yidi Sun, 2023. "An Improved TOPSIS Model Based on Cumulative Prospect Theory: Application to ESG Performance Evaluation of State-Owned Mining Enterprises," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-20, June.
    16. Constantinescu Daniela, 2021. "Sustainability disclosure and its impact on firm's value for Energy and Healthcare industry," Central European Economic Journal, Sciendo, vol. 8(55), pages 313-329, January.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    ESG; ESG momentum strategy; Excessive extrapolation; Investor sentiment; Momentum strategy; Overreaction hypothesis;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading

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