The Impact of Investor Sentiment on Stock Returns

Currently, the application of alternative media data offers a new perspective for measuring investor sentiment. To better predict stock returns and achieve excess returns, this paper reviews both theoretical research on the impact of investor sentiment on stock returns and algorithms for measuring investor sentiment through alternative media data. Firstly, this paper provides a review of research conducted by scholars from various countries and eras on the effect of various types of sentiment on stock performance. It then introduces two distinct algorithms from the perspectives of traditional news media and social media, respectively, used to extract sentiment from media text and images to gauge investor sentiment reflected in media data. Finally, empirical tests are conducted to examine the relationship between investor sentiment, as derived from different algorithms, and stock returns. The results indicate that different types of investor sentiment have a significant impact on stock returns, and incorporating investor sentiment into traditional stock return prediction models can significantly improve forecasting accuracy. By summarizing the research on alternative data and the influence of investor sentiment on stock performance, this study provides investors with a comprehensive overview of stock return prediction channels, aiding in optimizing investment strategies and achieving higher actual returns.