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Informed trading around earnings and mutual fund alphas

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  • Cai, Yu
  • Lau, Sie Ting

Abstract

We examine whether informed trading around earnings announcements drives mutual fund performance. The measure is motivated by prior studies arguing that a mutual fund is skilled if it buys stocks with subsequent high earnings announcement returns. We find that this measure predicts future mutual fund returns. On average, after adjusting for Carhart’s four risk factors, the top decile of mutual funds outperforms the bottom decile by 44 basis points per quarter. By decomposing fund alphas into two components in their relations to earnings, we find that this measure is only associated with earnings-related fund alphas. This measure can also be used to predict stock returns at future earnings announcements.

Suggested Citation

  • Cai, Yu & Lau, Sie Ting, 2015. "Informed trading around earnings and mutual fund alphas," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 168-180.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbfina:v:60:y:2015:i:c:p:168-180
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbankfin.2015.08.008
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    2. Jaydip Sen, 2018. "Stock composition of mutual funds and fund style: a time series decomposition approach towards testing for consistency," International Journal of Business Forecasting and Marketing Intelligence, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 4(3), pages 235-292.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Earnings announcement; Mutual fund alpha; Informed trading;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates
    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading

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