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Don't Take Their Word for It: The Misclassification of Bond Mutual Funds

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  • HUAIZHI CHEN
  • LAUREN COHEN
  • UMIT G. GURUN

Abstract

We provide evidence that bond fund managers misclassify their holdings, and that these misclassifications have a real and significant impact on investor capital flows. The problem is widespread, resulting in up to 31.4% of funds being misclassified with safer profiles, compared to their true, publicly reported holdings. “Misclassified funds”—those that hold risky bonds but claim to hold safer bonds—appear to on‐average outperform lower risk funds in their peer groups. Within category groups, misclassified funds receive more Morningstar stars and higher investor flows. However, when we correctly classify them based on actual risk, these funds are mediocre performers.

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  • Huaizhi Chen & Lauren Cohen & Umit G. Gurun, 2021. "Don't Take Their Word for It: The Misclassification of Bond Mutual Funds," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 76(4), pages 1699-1730, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jfinan:v:76:y:2021:i:4:p:1699-1730
    DOI: 10.1111/jofi.13023
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    3. Du, Kai & Huddart, Steven & Jiang, Xin Daniel, 2023. "Lost in standardization: Effects of financial statement database discrepancies on inference," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 76(1).
    4. Hodula, Martin & Szabo, Milan & Bajzík, Josef, 2024. "Retail fund flows and performance: Insights from supervisory data," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 59(C).
    5. Otero-González, Luis & Leite, Paulo & Durán-Santomil, Pablo & Domingues, Renato, 2022. "Morningstar Star ratings and the performance, risk and flows of European bond mutual funds," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 479-496.
    6. Minsu Ko & Cynthia Yin, 2024. "Socially Responsible Investment and Gender Equality in the United States Census," Working Papers 24-44, Center for Economic Studies, U.S. Census Bureau.
    7. deHaan, Ed & Li, Jiacui & Watts, Edward M., 2023. "Retail bond investors and credit ratings," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 76(1).

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