IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/reaccs/v30y2025i1d10.1007_s11142-024-09841-9.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The changing nature of financial analysis in the presence of ETFs

Author

Listed:
  • Russell Lundholm

    (University of British Columbia)

  • Xin Zheng

    (University of British Columbia)

Abstract

We study how the launch of an electronically traded fund (ETF) that holds firms in a specific industry changes the behavior of analysts who follow that firms in that industry. An industry ETF allows investors to trade the firm-specific payoff separately from the industry payoff. This causes significant changes in the value of different types of information. In particular, following an increase in a firm’s industry ETF coverage, the firm’s analyst coverage increases in the following year, and this holds after controlling for changes in institutional investment and other characteristics. We also find that, following an increase in ETF coverage, analyst recommendations are more likely to include an industry recommendation separate from the firm-specific recommendation, and the latter is more likely to be stated in relative terms. Our results strengthen when the new ETF is a better hedge against the industry payoff factor and when we introduce a plausible control for endogeneity.

Suggested Citation

  • Russell Lundholm & Xin Zheng, 2025. "The changing nature of financial analysis in the presence of ETFs," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 30(1), pages 860-898, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:reaccs:v:30:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1007_s11142-024-09841-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s11142-024-09841-9
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11142-024-09841-9
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s11142-024-09841-9?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Doron Israeli & Charles M. C. Lee & Suhas A. Sridharan, 2017. "Is there a dark side to exchange traded funds? An information perspective," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 22(3), pages 1048-1083, September.
    2. Shiyang Huang & Maureen O’Hara & Zhuo Zhong, 2021. "Innovation and Informed Trading: Evidence from Industry ETFs [Short interest, institutional ownership, and stock returns]," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 34(3), pages 1280-1316.
    3. Ohad Kadan & Leonardo Madureira & Rong Wang & Tzachi Zach, 2009. "Conflicts of Interest and Stock Recommendations: The Effects of the Global Settlement and Related Regulations," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 22(10), pages 4189-4217, October.
    4. Brennan, Michael J & Hughes, Patricia J, 1991. "Stock Prices and the Supply of Information," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 46(5), pages 1665-1691, December.
    5. Mary E. Barth & Ron Kasznik & Maureen F. McNichols, 2001. "Analyst Coverage and Intangible Assets," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 39(1), pages 1-34, June.
    6. Bhojraj, Sanjeev & Mohanram, Partha & Zhang, Suning, 2020. "ETFs and information transfer across firms," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 70(2).
    7. Kadan, Ohad & Madureira, Leonardo & Wang, Rong & Zach, Tzachi, 2012. "Analysts' industry expertise," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 54(2), pages 95-120.
    8. John S. Howe & Emre Unlu & Xuemin (Sterling) Yan, 2009. "The Predictive Content of Aggregate Analyst Recommendations," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 47(3), pages 799-821, June.
    9. Bhushan, Ravi, 1989. "Firm characteristics and analyst following," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 11(2-3), pages 255-274, July.
    10. Bradshaw, Mark & Ertimur, Yonca & O'Brien, Patricia, 2017. "Financial Analysts and Their Contribution to Well-Functioning Capital Markets," Foundations and Trends(R) in Accounting, now publishers, vol. 11(3), pages 119-191, December.
    11. Boni, Leslie & Womack, Kent L., 2006. "Analysts, Industries, and Price Momentum," Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 41(1), pages 85-109, March.
    12. Lee, Charles M.C. & So, Eric C., 2017. "Uncovering expected returns: Information in analyst coverage proxies," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 124(2), pages 331-348.
    13. repec:bla:jfinan:v:59:y:2004:i:3:p:1083-1124 is not listed on IDEAS
    14. Allen H. Huang & Reuven Lehavy & Amy Y. Zang & Rong Zheng, 2018. "Analyst Information Discovery and Interpretation Roles: A Topic Modeling Approach," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 64(6), pages 2833-2855, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Badryah Alhusaini & Andrew C. Call & Kimball Chapman, 2025. "Analyst information about peer firms during the IPO quiet period," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 30(1), pages 480-518, March.
    2. He, Guanming & Li, April Zhichao, 2024. "Does media coverage of firms' environment, social, and governance (ESG) incidents affect analyst coverage and forecasts? A risk perspective," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    3. Dan Bernhardt & Chi Wan & Zhijie Xiao, 2016. "The Reluctant Analyst," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 54(4), pages 987-1040, September.
    4. Joseph Weber & Michael Willenborg & Biyu Wu & Yanhua Sunny Yang, 2024. "IPO price formation and analyst coverage," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 29(4), pages 3788-3837, December.
    5. Jin, Han & Mazouz, Khelifa & Wu, Yuliang & Xu, Bin, 2023. "Can star analysts make superior coverage decisions in poor information environment?," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
    6. Mei-Chen Lin & Po-Hsin Ho & Hsiang-Lin Chih, 2019. "Effects of managerial overconfidence on analyst recommendations," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 53(1), pages 73-99, July.
    7. Mola, Simona & Guidolin, Massimo, 2009. "Affiliated mutual funds and analyst optimism," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 93(1), pages 108-137, July.
    8. Gus De Franco & S.P. Kothari & Rodrigo S. Verdi, 2011. "The Benefits of Financial Statement Comparability," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 49(4), pages 895-931, September.
    9. Galanti, Sébastien & Leroy, Aurélien & Vaubourg, Anne-Gaël, 2022. "Investment and access to external finance in Europe: Does analyst coverage matter?," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    10. Bingxu Fang & Ole-Kristian Hope & Zhongwei Huang & Rucsandra Moldovan, 2020. "The effects of MiFID II on sell-side analysts, buy-side analysts, and firms," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 25(3), pages 855-902, September.
    11. Yuan, Ying & Huang, Yizhao & Chen, Haoran, 2021. "Monthly-rebalanced leveraged exchange-traded products: Performance and mandatory rebalancing needs," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 57(C).
    12. Haw, In-Mu & Hu, Bingbing & Lee, Jay Junghun, 2015. "Product market competition and analyst forecasting activity: International evidence," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 48-60.
    13. Erik Devos & Seow Ong & Andrew Spieler, 2007. "Analyst Activity and Firm Value: Evidence from the REIT Sector," The Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics, Springer, vol. 35(3), pages 333-356, October.
    14. Kommel, Karl Arnold & Sillasoo, Martin & Lublóy, Ágnes, 2019. "Could crowdsourced financial analysis replace the equity research by investment banks?," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 29(C), pages 280-284.
    15. Boone, Jeff P. & Khurana, Inder K. & Raman, K.K., 2022. "Accounting estimation intensity, analyst following, and earnings forecast properties," Advances in accounting, Elsevier, vol. 59(C).
    16. Beyer, Anne & Cohen, Daniel A. & Lys, Thomas Z. & Walther, Beverly R., 2010. "The financial reporting environment: Review of the recent literature," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 50(2-3), pages 296-343, December.
    17. Hueiling Chen & Cheng-Tsu Huang & Hsiou-Wei W. Lin, 2016. "Changes in analyst following for less covered firms accompanying Regulation Fair Disclosure: the roles of ability and industry experience," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 46(3), pages 519-541, April.
    18. John A. Doukas & Chansog (Francis) Kim & Christos Pantzalis, 2008. "Do Analysts Influence Corporate Financing and Investment?," Financial Management, Financial Management Association International, vol. 37(2), pages 303-339, June.
    19. Girish Joshi & Ranjan Kumar Dash, 2024. "Exchange-traded funds and the future of passive investments: a bibliometric review and future research agenda," Future Business Journal, Springer, vol. 10(1), pages 1-21, December.
    20. Jonathan Ross & David Ziebart & Anthony Meder, 2019. "A new measure of firm-group accounting closeness," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 52(4), pages 1137-1161, May.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Financial statement analysis; Analyst recommendations; Analyst coverage; Electronically traded funds;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G1 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets
    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading
    • G41 - Financial Economics - - Behavioral Finance - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making in Financial Markets

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:reaccs:v:30:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1007_s11142-024-09841-9. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.