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Investor relations, information asymmetry and market value

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  • Vineet Agarwal
  • Richard J. Taffler
  • Xijuan Bellotti
  • Elly A. Nash

Abstract

Evidence to date on the market value of investor relations (IR) strategies is limited. We test the market relevance of IR activity directly employing a proprietary database measuring IR quality across all firms listed on NYSE, Amex and NASDAQ. Although, in theory, ‘repackaging’ and communicating existing information should have no market impact, we find that firms with higher quality IR strategies are rewarded with significantly higher valuation multiples. In addition, increase in IR quality is associated with increases in analyst following and liquidity. Overall, our findings are generally stronger for small firms which are more likely to be ‘neglected’. Our evidence is consistent with effective IR successfully raising firm visibility leading to enhanced recognition and reduced information asymmetry in line with Merton (1987) and thus ‘fairer’ firm valuation as argued by IR professionals.

Suggested Citation

  • Vineet Agarwal & Richard J. Taffler & Xijuan Bellotti & Elly A. Nash, 2016. "Investor relations, information asymmetry and market value," Accounting and Business Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 46(1), pages 31-50, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:taf:acctbr:v:46:y:2016:i:1:p:31-50
    DOI: 10.1080/00014788.2015.1025254
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    8. Jonathan Batten & Xuan Vinh Vo, 2019. "Liquidity And Firm Value In An Emerging Market," The Singapore Economic Review (SER), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 64(02), pages 365-376, March.
    9. Shilei Yu & Ning Hu & Wanyi Chen, 2023. "The value of communication: Evidence from in‐depth investor relations management data," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 63(4), pages 3873-3909, December.
    10. Pascual-Ezama, David & Paredes, Mercedes Rodríguez & Sanchez-Martín, María-del-Pilar & de Liaño, Beatriz Gil-Gómez, 2018. "Shorter and easier is more useful: A longitudinal analysis of how financial report enforcement affects individual investors," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 29-37.

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