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Analysts’ stock ownership and stock recommendations

Author

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  • Chan, Jesse
  • Lin, Steve
  • Yu, Yong
  • Zhao, Wuyang

Abstract

Using hand-collected information, we find that analysts who own stock in a company they follow make more informative recommendations and exert more effort in covering the company. However, we also find that analysts with stock ownership issue more optimistic target price forecasts. These findings suggest that analysts’ stock ownership enhances the credibility of their recommendations by conveying their superior information, but also induces analysts to bias upwards their target price forecasts. Surprisingly, we find that 56% of analysts owning stock terminate their ownership while having a buy recommendation outstanding, suggesting a potentially widespread violation of the regulations on analysts’ research.

Suggested Citation

  • Chan, Jesse & Lin, Steve & Yu, Yong & Zhao, Wuyang, 2018. "Analysts’ stock ownership and stock recommendations," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 66(2), pages 476-498.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jaecon:v:66:y:2018:i:2:p:476-498
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jacceco.2018.08.010
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    Cited by:

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    7. Taufiq Choudhry & Gishan Dissanaike & Ranadeva Jayasekera & Woo-Young Kang & Matthias Nnadi, 2021. "Loss sensitive investors and positively biased analysts in Hong Kong stock market," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 57(4), pages 1345-1371, November.
    8. John L. Campbell & Matthew D. DeAngelis & James R. Moon, 2019. "Skin in the game: personal stock holdings and investors’ response to stock analysis on social media," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 24(3), pages 731-779, September.

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