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Effects of Analysts’ Ratings on Insurer Stock Returns: Evidence of Asymmetric Responses

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  • Martin Halek
  • David L. Eckles

Abstract

We examine the information value contained in insurer rating changes. Using a contemporary event study approach, we document an asymmetric reaction of stock prices to rating changes: downgrades cut share prices by approximately 7 percent but upgrades have little significant effect. This result varies across agencies as share prices react more strongly to A.M. Best and Standard & Poor's downgrades than to Moody's. We observe a similar asymmetric reaction to rating changes subject to a common rating benchmark. Finally, we find that prices fall most dramatically when a rating downgrade from one rating agency follows a downgrade from another agency.

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  • Martin Halek & David L. Eckles, 2010. "Effects of Analysts’ Ratings on Insurer Stock Returns: Evidence of Asymmetric Responses," Journal of Risk & Insurance, The American Risk and Insurance Association, vol. 77(4), pages 801-827, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jrinsu:v:77:y:2010:i:4:p:801-827
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1539-6975.2010.01368.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Krishna Reddy & Rudi Bosman & Nawazish Mirza, 2019. "Impact Of Credit Ratings On Stock Returns," Bulletin of Monetary Economics and Banking, Bank Indonesia, vol. 21(3), pages 343-366, January.
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    5. Derrick W. H. Fung & Charles C. Yang & Jason J. H. Yeh, 2024. "The market price to embedded value gap: an analysis of European life insurers," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 62(1), pages 69-96, January.
    6. Jill Bisco & Kathleen McCullough, 2017. "Retained Asset Accounts and Creditor Reactions to an A.M. Best Change," Risk Management and Insurance Review, American Risk and Insurance Association, vol. 20(3), pages 277-307, December.
    7. Abdelkader Boudriga & Dorsaf Azouz Ghachem, 2016. "Does US stock market react differently to rating announcements during crisis period? The case of the 2008 worldwide financial crisis," American Journal of Finance and Accounting, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 4(3/4), pages 193-214.
    8. Dong, Ming, 2014. "The impact of firm-level transparency on the ex ante risk decisions of insurers: Evidence from an empirical study," ICIR Working Paper Series 14/14, Goethe University Frankfurt, International Center for Insurance Regulation (ICIR).
    9. Dorsaf Azouz Ghachem & Abdelkader Boudriga & Chokri Mamoghli, 2011. "Does The American Stock Market React Differently to Rating Announcements During A Crisis Period? The Case of the 2008 Worldwide Financial Crisis," Working Papers 601, Economic Research Forum, revised 07 Jan 2011.
    10. Dorothea Diers & Martin Eling & Christian Kraus & Andreas Reuß, 2012. "Market-consistent embedded value in non-life insurance: how to measure it and why," Journal of Risk Finance, Emerald Group Publishing, vol. 13(4), pages 320-346, August.
    11. Alcalde, Pilar & Vial, Bernardita, 2022. "Implicit trade‐offs in replacement rates: Consumer preferences for firms, intermediaries and annuity attributes," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    12. Evan M. Eastman & Jianren Xu, 2021. "Market reactions to enterprise risk management adoption, incorporation by rating agencies, and ORSA Act passage," Risk Management and Insurance Review, American Risk and Insurance Association, vol. 24(2), pages 151-180, June.

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