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Can Mutual Fund Managers Pick Stocks? Evidence from the Trades Prior to Earnings Announcements

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Listed:
  • Malcolm Baker
  • Lubomir Litov
  • Jessica A. Wachter
  • Jeffrey Wurgler

Abstract

We test whether fund managers have stock-picking skill by comparing their holdings and trades prior to earnings announcements with the returns realized at those events. This approach largely avoids the joint-hypothesis problem with long-horizon studies of fund performance. Consistent with skilled trading, we find that, on average, stocks that funds buy earn significantly higher returns at subsequent earnings announcements than stocks that they sell. Funds display persistence in our event return-based metrics, and those that do well tend to have a growth objective, large size, high turnover, and use incentive fees to motivate managers.

Suggested Citation

  • Malcolm Baker & Lubomir Litov & Jessica A. Wachter & Jeffrey Wurgler, 2004. "Can Mutual Fund Managers Pick Stocks? Evidence from the Trades Prior to Earnings Announcements," NBER Working Papers 10685, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:10685
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    • G2 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services

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