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ESG Rating Disagreement and Stock Returns

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  • Rajna Gibson Brandon
  • Philipp Krueger
  • Peter Steffen Schmidt

Abstract

Using environmental, social, and governance (ESG) ratings from seven different data providers for a sample of firms in the S&P 500 Index between 2010 and 2017, we studied the relationship between ESG rating disagreement and stock returns. We found that stock returns are positively related to ESG rating disagreement, suggesting a risk premium for firms with higher ESG rating disagreement. The relationship is primarily driven by disagreement about the environmental dimension. We discuss the practical implications of our findings for firms’ equity cost of capital as well as for investment managers and asset owners who use ESG investment strategies.

Suggested Citation

  • Rajna Gibson Brandon & Philipp Krueger & Peter Steffen Schmidt, 2021. "ESG Rating Disagreement and Stock Returns," Financial Analysts Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 77(4), pages 104-127, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:taf:ufajxx:v:77:y:2021:i:4:p:104-127
    DOI: 10.1080/0015198X.2021.1963186
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    Cited by:

    1. Erhart, Szilárd, 2022. "Take it with a pinch of salt—ESG rating of stocks and stock indices," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    2. Dumrose, Maurice & Rink, Sebastian & Eckert, Julia, 2022. "Disaggregating confusion? The EU Taxonomy and its relation to ESG rating," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 48(C).
    3. Addisu A. Lashitew, 2021. "Corporate uptake of the Sustainable Development Goals: Mere greenwashing or an advent of institutional change?," Journal of International Business Policy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 4(1), pages 184-200, March.
    4. Vezeteu Cosmin-Dănuț & Stănciulescu Raluca-Ioana, 2024. "ESG Risks and Financial Performance. Analysis of Romanian-Listed Companies," Proceedings of the International Conference on Business Excellence, Sciendo, vol. 18(1), pages 2196-2210.
    5. Gao, Feng & Li, Yubin & Wang, Xinjie & Zhong, Zhaodong (Ken), 2021. "Corporate social responsibility and the term structure of CDS spreads," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    6. Özge Sahin & Karoline Bax & Claudia Czado & Sandra Paterlini, 2022. "Environmental, Social, Governance scores and the Missing pillar—Why does missing information matter?," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(5), pages 1782-1798, September.
    7. Bae, Kee-Hong & El Ghoul, Sadok & Gong, Zhaoran (Jason) & Guedhami, Omrane, 2021. "Does CSR matter in times of crisis? Evidence from the COVID-19 pandemic," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    8. Ailing Xu & Yuanyuan Su & Yingxin Wang, 2024. "A Study of the Impact Mechanism of Corporate ESG Performance on Surplus Persistence," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-21, August.
    9. Gardenier, Julius & Lac, Visieu & Ashfaq, Muhammad, 2021. "Risk-adjusted return in sustainable finance: A comparative analysis of European positively screened and best-in-class ESG investment portfolios and the Euro Stoxx 50 index using the Sharpe Ratio," IU Discussion Papers - Business & Management 7/2021, IU International University of Applied Sciences.
    10. Lihua Zeng & Hao Li & Liyu Lin & Dora Juan Juan Hu & Hui Liu, 2024. "ESG Standards in China: Bibliometric Analysis, Development Status Research, and Future Research Directions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(16), pages 1-24, August.
    11. Lopez, Claude & Contreras, Oscar & Bendix, Joseph, 2020. "Disagreement among ESG rating agencies: shall we be worried?," MPRA Paper 103027, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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