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Mandatory disclosure of comment letters and analysts' forecasts

Author

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  • Hu, Ning
  • Xu, Jiayi
  • Xue, Shuang

Abstract

Comment letters (CLs) have been adopted as the main supervision mechanism for information disclosure by the two main Chinese stock exchanges since 2013. Both CLs and firms' responses have been publicly disclosed since the end of 2014. Using nonfinancial listed firms from 2013 to 2019 as our sample, we investigate the impact of CLs and their mandatory disclosure on analysts' forecast quality. The results show that, in the pre-disclosure period, there is no significant relation between CLs and analysts' forecast quality. However, in the post-disclosure period, CLs are positively (negatively) correlated with analysts' forecast accuracy (optimism). The quality of analysts' forecasts is much higher when CLs contain more questions. In addition, the impact of CLs is larger for samples with a lower percentage of star analysts or samples with higher earnings volatility. CL recipients tend to disclose more information on their internal and external risks, which can offer additional information to analysts.

Suggested Citation

  • Hu, Ning & Xu, Jiayi & Xue, Shuang, 2022. "Mandatory disclosure of comment letters and analysts' forecasts," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finana:v:84:y:2022:i:c:s1057521922003763
    DOI: 10.1016/j.irfa.2022.102426
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    1. Liu, Baohua & Huang, Dan & Chen, Tao & Chan, Kam C., 2023. "Mandatory R&D disclosure and analyst forecast Accuracy: Evidence from an emerging market," Journal of Contemporary Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 19(3).
    2. Liu, Yu & Yang, Lingxuan & Xiong, Lu, 2023. "Performance commitments and the properties of analyst earnings forecasts: Evidence from Chinese reverse merger firms," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Comment letter; Mandatory disclosure; Analyst forecast quality; Market efficiency;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G28 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • M48 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • D82 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Asymmetric and Private Information; Mechanism Design
    • K22 - Law and Economics - - Regulation and Business Law - - - Business and Securities Law

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