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A Text-Based Analysis of Corporate Innovation

Author

Listed:
  • Gustaf Bellstam

    (Facebook, Seattle, Washington 98109)

  • Sanjai Bhagat

    (Leeds School of Business, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309)

  • J. Anthony Cookson

    (Leeds School of Business, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309)

Abstract

We develop a new measure of innovation using the text of analyst reports of S&P 500 firms. Our text-based measure gives a useful description of innovation by firms with and without patenting and R&D (research and development). For nonpatenting firms, the measure identifies innovative firms that adopt novel technologies and innovative business practices (e.g., Walmart’s cross-geography logistics). For patenting firms, the text-based measure strongly correlates with valuable patents, which likely capture true innovation. The text-based measure robustly forecasts greater firm performance and growth opportunities for up to four years, and these value implications hold just as strongly for innovative nonpatenting firms.

Suggested Citation

  • Gustaf Bellstam & Sanjai Bhagat & J. Anthony Cookson, 2021. "A Text-Based Analysis of Corporate Innovation," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 67(7), pages 4004-4031, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:ormnsc:v:67:y:2021:i:7:p:4004-4031
    DOI: 10.1287/mnsc.2020.3682
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Xue Wen Tan & Stanley Kok, 2024. "Explainable Risk Classification in Financial Reports," Papers 2405.01881, arXiv.org, revised May 2024.
    3. Li, Fengyu & Yang, Mozhu & Zhang, Tong, 2023. "Does prospectus readability matter for bond issuance pricing? Evidence from China," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    4. Jiang, Hongxun & Fan, Shaokun & Zhang, Nan & Zhu, Bin, 2023. "Deep learning for predicting patent application outcome: The fusion of text and network embeddings," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 17(2).
    5. Sun, Bing & Zhang, Yanfeng & Zhu, Kunyan & Mao, Hongying & Liang, Tian, 2024. "Is faster really better? The impact of digital transformation speed on firm financial distress: Based on the cost-benefit perspective," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    6. Hertel, Tobias & Kaya, Devrimi & Reichmann, Doron, 2024. "Corporate culture and M&A deals: Using text from crowdsourced employer reviews to measure cultural differences," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    7. Jeon, Heung-Jae & Jung, Sumi, 2024. "Generalist vs. Specialist CEOs: R&D Investment Sensitivity to Stock Price," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 62(PA).
    8. Zheng, Panpan & Li, Zhen & Zhuang, Ziyin, 2024. "The impact of COVID-19 on corporate digital innovation in China: A study based on the DDD model," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 59(C).
    9. Xu, Yong & Yuan, Ling & Khalfaoui, Rabeh & Radulescu, Magdalena & Mallek, Sabrine & Zhao, Xin, 2023. "Making technological innovation greener: Does firm digital transformation work?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).
    10. Filippini, Massimo & Leippold, Markus & Wekhof, Tobias, 2024. "Sustainable finance literacy and the determinants of sustainable investing," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    11. Fengler, Matthias & Phan, Minh Tri, 2023. "A Topic Model for 10-K Management Disclosures," Economics Working Paper Series 2307, University of St. Gallen, School of Economics and Political Science.
    12. Borchert, Philipp & Coussement, Kristof & De Weerdt, Jochen & De Caigny, Arno, 2024. "Industry-sensitive language modeling for business," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 315(2), pages 691-702.
    13. Tang, Wenjin & Bu, Hui & Zuo, Yuan & Wu, Junjie, 2024. "Unlocking the power of the topic content in news headlines: BERTopic for predicting Chinese corporate bond defaults," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 62(PA).
    14. Xiao, Zumian & Wang, Shuhan & Zhang, Yepeng & Si, Deng-Kui, 2023. "Power of competition: Unraveling the impact of China's fair competition review system implementation on firm innovation," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 1561-1581.
    15. Li, Zongru & Zhang, Xiaohan & Tao, Zhe & Wang, Binbin, 2024. "Enterprise digital transformation and supply chain management," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).

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