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Long-term discount rates do not vary across firms

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  • Keloharju, Matti
  • Linnainmaa, Juhani T.
  • Nyberg, Peter

Abstract

Long-term expected returns do not appear to vary in the cross section of stocks. We show that even negligible persistent differences in expected returns, if they existed, would be easy to detect. Markers of such differences, however, are absent from actual stock returns. Our results are consistent with behavioral models and production-based asset pricing models in which firms’ risks change over time. Consistent with the lack of long-term differences in expected returns, persistent differences in firm characteristics do not predict the cross section of stock returns. Our results imply that stock market anomalies have only a limited effect on firm valuations.

Suggested Citation

  • Keloharju, Matti & Linnainmaa, Juhani T. & Nyberg, Peter, 2021. "Long-term discount rates do not vary across firms," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 141(3), pages 946-967.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jfinec:v:141:y:2021:i:3:p:946-967
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jfineco.2021.04.031
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    2. Baba-Yara, Fahiz & Boons, Martijn & Tamoni, Andrea, 2024. "Persistent and transitory components of firm characteristics: Implications for asset pricing," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    3. Yan, Jingda & Yu, Jialin, 2023. "Cross-stock momentum and factor momentum," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 150(2).
    4. Beckmeyer, Heiner & Wiedemann, Timo, 2022. "Recovering Missing Firm Characteristics with Attention-Based Machine Learning," VfS Annual Conference 2022 (Basel): Big Data in Economics 264135, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    5. van Binsbergen, Jules H. & Boons, Martijn & Opp, Christian C. & Tamoni, Andrea, 2023. "Dynamic asset (mis)pricing: Build-up versus resolution anomalies," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 147(2), pages 406-431.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Factors; Return predictability; Market efficiency; Production-based asset pricing models; Time-varying risks;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates
    • G31 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Capital Budgeting; Fixed Investment and Inventory Studies

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