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Retail investors matter: The value of corporate interactions

Author

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  • Huang, Li
  • Liu, Jinsong
  • Shi, Jing
  • Ying, Qianwei

Abstract

While the importance of corporate interactions with large or institutional investors has attracted much research attention, the value of such interactions with retail investors remains largely unexplored. In this study, we investigate the impact of corporate interactions with retail investors on the cost of equity capital, using a comprehensive dataset of dialogues extracted from online corporate interactive communication platforms launched by two major Chinese stock exchanges in the 2010 s. We find that firms that actively engage with retail investors have significantly lower costs of equity capital, and this effect is particularly pronounced when these investors hold a larger proportion of ownership. Our findings suggest that the interactions between firms and retail investors lead to a reduction in the cost of equity capital, primarily by mitigating the difficulties these investors face in processing information and enhancing their confidence in the firm.

Suggested Citation

  • Huang, Li & Liu, Jinsong & Shi, Jing & Ying, Qianwei, 2024. "Retail investors matter: The value of corporate interactions," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:riibaf:v:69:y:2024:i:c:s0275531924000187
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ribaf.2024.102226
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Interactions with retail investors; Cost of equity; Information asymmetry;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • D82 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Asymmetric and Private Information; Mechanism Design

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