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Activist hedge funds and firm disclosure

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  • Jing Chen
  • Michael J. Jung

Abstract

This study examines whether firms' disclosure decisions are affected by the presence of activist hedge funds. Using a large sample of firms that experienced increases in ownership by activist hedge funds, we find that firms are more likely to cease providing financial guidance or reduce the information in the guidance in the quarter subsequent to new investment by activist hedge funds. These results hold even for firms that experienced good quarters and consistently provided guidance in previous quarters. Since guidance has been shown to be beneficial to capital market participants in many ways, reduced guidance has meaningful market implications. Our findings highlight a negative and possible unintended consequence of activist hedge funds' investment in firms, which provides some counterbalance to the numerous positive consequences documented in the prior literature on hedge fund activism.

Suggested Citation

  • Jing Chen & Michael J. Jung, 2016. "Activist hedge funds and firm disclosure," Review of Financial Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(1), pages 52-63, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:revfec:v:29:y:2016:i:1:p:52-63
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rfe.2015.09.004
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    1. Xue Jia & Rahul Menon, 2023. "Shareholder Short-Termism, Corporate Control and Voluntary Disclosure," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 69(1), pages 702-721, January.

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