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Sell-side debt analysts

Author

Listed:
  • Johnston, Rick
  • Markov, Stanimir
  • Ramnath, Sundaresh

Abstract

We study the determinants and market impact of sell-side debt research. Analyzing a sample of 5920 debt reports published by 15 brokerage firms from 1999 to 2004, we document that companies with a higher probability of financial distress, lower market-to-book ratio, larger debt, and higher leverage receive more debt research. In addition, we document higher frequency of debt reports around credit ratings downgrades and find that their publication impacts equity prices. The evidence enhances our understanding of the nature of the market forces shaping sell-side debt research and its effect on price formation.

Suggested Citation

  • Johnston, Rick & Markov, Stanimir & Ramnath, Sundaresh, 2009. "Sell-side debt analysts," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 47(1-2), pages 91-107, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jaecon:v:47:y:2009:i:1-2:p:91-107
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    Cited by:

    1. Kolasinski, Adam C., 2009. "A tale of two intermediaries: A discussion of Johnston, Markov and Ramnath (2009), and Cheng and Neamtiu (2009)," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 47(1-2), pages 131-135, March.
    2. Lawrence J. White, 2016. "Credit Rating Agencies: An Analysis Through the Lenses of Industrial Organization, Finance and Regulation," Pacific Economic Review, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 21(2), pages 202-226, May.
    3. Levy, Hagit & Shalev, Ron, 2017. "Bond repurchase objectives and the repurchase method choice," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 63(2), pages 385-403.
    4. Bhattacharya, Utpal & Wei, Kelsey D. & Xia, Han, 2019. "Follow the money: Investor trading around investor-paid credit rating changes," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 68-91.
    5. Berger, Philip G., 2011. "Challenges and opportunities in disclosure research—A discussion of ‘the financial reporting environment: Review of the recent literature’," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 51(1), pages 204-218.
    6. Beyer, Anne & Cohen, Daniel A. & Lys, Thomas Z. & Walther, Beverly R., 2010. "The financial reporting environment: Review of the recent literature," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 50(2-3), pages 296-343, December.
    7. Umit G. Gurun & Rick Johnston & Stanimir Markov, 2016. "Sell-Side Debt Analysts and Debt Market Efficiency," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 62(3), pages 682-703, March.
    8. Lawrence J. White, 2016. "The Credit Rating Agencies: An Analysis through the Lenses of Industrial Organization, Finance, and Regulation," Working Papers 16-02, New York University, Leonard N. Stern School of Business, Department of Economics.
    9. Wei Hao & Andrew Prevost & Udomsak Wongchoti, 2018. "Are Low Equity R2 Firms More or Less Transparent? Evidence from the Corporate Bond Market," Financial Management, Financial Management Association International, vol. 47(4), pages 865-909, December.
    10. Gerald J. Lobo & Luc Paugam & Hervé Stolowy & Pierre Astolfi, 2017. "The Effect of Business and Financial Market Cycles on Credit Ratings: Evidence from the Last Two Decades," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 53(1), pages 59-93, March.
    11. Derrien, François & Kecskés, Ambrus & Mansi, Sattar A., 2016. "Information asymmetry, the cost of debt, and credit events: Evidence from quasi-random analyst disappearances," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 295-311.
    12. Green, T. Clifton & Jame, Russell & Markov, Stanimir & Subasi, Musa, 2014. "Broker-hosted investor conferences," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 58(1), pages 142-166.
    13. Lawrence J. White, 2010. "Markets: The Credit Rating Agencies," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 24(2), pages 211-226, Spring.
    14. Papadaki, Aphroditi J. & Pavlopoulou-Lelaki, Olga-Chara, 2021. "Sources of Corporate Financing and Operating Performance: The effects of strategic ownership and financial restatements," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    15. Li, Jiacui, 2022. "Endogenous inattention and risk-specific price underreaction in corporate bonds," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 145(2), pages 595-615.
    16. De Franco, Gus & Shohfi, Thomas & Xu, Da & Zhu, Zhiwei (Vivi), 2023. "Fixed income conference calls," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 75(1).

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