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R2 and Idiosyncratic Volatility: Which Captures the Firm-specific Return Variation?

Author

Listed:
  • Wei Zhang

    (College of Management and Economics, China Center for Social Computing & Analytics, Tianjin University, China)

  • Xiao Li

    (College of Management and Economics, China Center for Social Computing & Analytics, Tianjin University, China)

  • Dehua Shen

    (Department of Economics, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón, Spain)

  • Andrea Teglio

    (Department of Economics, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón, Spain)

Abstract

A growing literature regards R2 and idiosyncratic volatility as the proxies for firm-specific return variation and examines their role in several aspects of firm's information environment. However, the question on choosing the appropriate proxy, i.e., R2 or idiosyncratic volatility, has been completely ignored. In this paper, given the unique short selling mechanism in China, we examine the changes in R2 and idiosyncratic volatility around the demarcation of information environment, respectively. The empirical findings suggest that both R2 and idiosyncratic volatility are satisfying proxies for firm-specific return variation when the information environment for individual firm is deteriorated. The R2 may not be a suitable proxy when the information environment for individual firm is improved. In that sense, we caution scholars to consider the development of capital market and the speed of information diffusion when adopting our results.

Suggested Citation

  • Wei Zhang & Xiao Li & Dehua Shen & Andrea Teglio, 2015. "R2 and Idiosyncratic Volatility: Which Captures the Firm-specific Return Variation?," Working Papers 2015/06, Economics Department, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón (Spain).
    • Handle: RePEc:jau:wpaper:2015/06
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    2. Shi, Huai-Long & Zhou, Wei-Xing, 2017. "Time series momentum and contrarian effects in the Chinese stock market," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 483(C), pages 309-318.
    3. Cong, Yunyu & Sun, Fangfang & Wang, Fusheng & Ye, Qiang, 2022. "Information assimilation and stock return synchronicity: Evidence from an investor relations management platform," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 53(C).
    4. Xiong, Xiong & Meng, Yongqiang & Li, Xiao & Shen, Dehua, 2020. "Can overnight return really serve as a proxy for firm-specific investor sentiment? Cross-country evidence," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    5. Ahmad Fraz & Arshad Hassan, 2017. "Stock Price Synchronicity and Information Environment," Business & Economic Review, Institute of Management Sciences, Peshawar, Pakistan, vol. 9(4), pages 213-232, December.
    6. Shen, Dehua & Li, Xiao & Zhang, Wei, 2018. "Baidu news information flow and return volatility: Evidence for the Sequential Information Arrival Hypothesis," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 127-133.
    7. Anh Tho To & Trung Dao Le & Quoc Tuan Tran & Thanh Lam Nguyen & Thi Thu Hong Ho, 2024. "Large Shareholders and Stock Price Synchronicity: Evidence from Vietnam," Global Business Review, International Management Institute, vol. 25(6), pages 1409-1422, December.
    8. Shen, Dehua & Chang, Yuyan & Goodell, John W. & Corbet, Shaen, 2025. "Does idiosyncratic volatility always reflect transparency? Evidence from Chinese equity and bond markets," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    9. Zhang, Wei & Bi, Zhengzheng & Shen, Dehua, 2017. "Investor structure and the price–volume relationship in a continuous double auction market: An agent-based modeling perspective," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 467(C), pages 345-355.
    10. Shen, Dehua & Li, Xiao & Xue, Mei & Zhang, Wei, 2017. "Does microblogging convey firm-specific information? Evidence from China," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 482(C), pages 621-626.
    11. Li, Xiao & Xing, Yao, 2023. "When stock return synchronicity meets investor sentiment," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 53(C).
    12. Feng, Xunan & Chan, Kam C., 2016. "Information advantage, short sales, and stock returns: Evidence from short selling reform in China," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 131-142.
    13. Zhang, Zuochao & Shen, Dehua, 2024. "Not all the news fitting to reprint: Evidence from price-volume relationship," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 62(PA).
    14. Meng, Yongqiang & Shen, Dehua & Xiong, Xiong, 2023. "When stock price crash risk meets fundamentals," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    15. Peng, Cheng & Zhu, Huiming & Jia, Xianghua & You, Wanhai, 2017. "Stock price synchronicity to oil shocks across quantiles: Evidence from Chinese oil firms," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 248-259.
    16. Todea, Alexandru & Petrescu, Daiana Florina, 2021. "Is stock price informativeness shaped by our genes?," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    17. Dehua Shen & Wei Zhang, 2021. "Stay-at-Home Stocks Versus Go-Outside Stocks: The Impacts of COVID-19 on the Chinese Stock Market," Asia-Pacific Financial Markets, Springer;Japanese Association of Financial Economics and Engineering, vol. 28(2), pages 305-318, June.
    18. Chen Chen & M. Mahdi Moeini Gharagozloo & Layla Darougar & Lei Shi, 2022. "The way digitalization is impacting international financial markets: Stock price synchronicity," International Finance, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 25(3), pages 396-415, December.
    19. Wei, Yanlin & Zhang, Junrui & Cheng, Maoyong & Liu, Tingting, 2025. "Does data asset disclosure contribute to the market efficiency? Evidence from China," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 73(PA).
    20. Zhang, Zuochao & Shen, Dehua, 2024. "Firm-specific new media sentiment and price synchronicity," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    21. He, Feng & Qin, Shuqi & Liu, Yuanyuan & Wu, Ji (George), 2022. "CSR and idiosyncratic risk: Evidence from ESG information disclosure," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 49(C).
    22. Li, Xiao & Shen, Dehua & Zhang, Wei, 2018. "Do Chinese internet stock message boards convey firm-specific information?," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 1-14.
    23. Chu, Gang & Li, Xiao & Zhang, Yongjie, 2022. "Information demand and net selling around earnings announcement," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 59(C).
    24. Zhang, Yongjie & Song, Weixin & Shen, Dehua & Zhang, Wei, 2016. "Market reaction to internet news: Information diffusion and price pressure," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 43-49.
    25. Shen, Dehua & Tong, Zezheng & Goodell, John W., 2024. "Do online message boards convey cryptocurrency-specific information?," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading
    • G15 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - International Financial Markets

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