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Geographic Scope and Real Estate Firm Performance during the COVID-19 Pandemic

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  • Xiaoling Chu

    (Department of Real Estate & Construction, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China)

  • Chiuling Lu

    (School of Management, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
    College of Finance, Takming University of Science and Technology, Taipei 11451, Taiwan)

  • Desmond Tsang

    (Desautels Faculty of Management, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1G5, Canada)

Abstract

This study examines the effect of geographic scope in mitigating the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the real estate sector. Utilizing the Chinese setting over the two-month period in 2020 from the beginning of the outbreak to the successful containment of the spread of virus, we show that while the pandemic has negatively impacted real estate firm returns, firms with broader geographic scope and more geographically diversified property allocations have managed to better endure the crisis. We further find that firms with higher leverage report lower returns during the pandemic irrespective of their geographic scope, but larger firms can lessen the adverse impact of the pandemic only if they have adopted a more diversified strategy. Overall, our study provides novel evidence on the benefit of diversification by demonstrating the importance of geographic scope and diversification at times of crises. Specifically, we show corporate diversification could be especially useful to mitigate the negative stock market reactions resulting from the pandemic. Moreover, diversification could even become essential for larger firms that are expected by the market to be more diversified.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaoling Chu & Chiuling Lu & Desmond Tsang, 2021. "Geographic Scope and Real Estate Firm Performance during the COVID-19 Pandemic," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-16, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jjrfmx:v:14:y:2021:i:7:p:309-:d:589216
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    2. Paul Anglin & Jianxin Cui & Yanmin Gao & Li Zhang, 2021. "Analyst Forecasts during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence from REITs," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-21, September.
    3. Chuanhao Tian & Xintian Peng & Xiang Zhang, 2021. "COVID-19 Pandemic, Urban Resilience and Real Estate Prices: The Experience of Cities in the Yangtze River Delta in China," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-17, September.
    4. Woei Chyuan Wong & Edie Erman Che Johari & Shazida Jan Mohd Khan & Siti Nurazira Mohd Daud & Mohd Yushairi Mat Yusoff & Hafirda Akma Musaddad, 2023. "From Outbreak to Vaccination: An Analysis of the Commercial Property Market Reaction to COVID-19 in Malaysia," International Real Estate Review, Global Social Science Institute, vol. 26(3), pages 267-298.
    5. Kowalski Michał J. & Wang Tong & Kazak Jan K., 2023. "The Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on Value Migration Processes in the Real Estate Sector," Real Estate Management and Valuation, Sciendo, vol. 31(1), pages 10-24, March.

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