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IQ from IP: simplifying search in portfolio choice

Author

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  • Chen, Huaizhi
  • Cohen, Lauren
  • Gurun, Umit
  • Lou, Dong
  • Malloy, Christopher

Abstract

Using a novel database that tracks web traffic on the Security Exchange Commission's EDGAR server between 2004 and 2015, we show that institutional investors gather information on a very particular subset of firms and insiders, and their surveillance is very persistent over time. This tracking behavior has powerful implications for their portfolio choice and its information content. An institution that downloaded an insider trading filing by a given firm last quarter increases its likelihood of downloading an insider trading filing on the same firm by more than 41.3 percentage points this quarter. Moreover, the average tracked stock that an institution buys generates annualized alphas of over 12% relative to the purchase of an average non tracked stock. We find that institutional managers tend to track top executives and to share educational and locational commonalities with the specific insiders they choose to follow. Collectively, our results suggest that the information in tracked trades is important for fundamental firm value and is only revealed following the information-rich dual trading by insiders and linked institutions.

Suggested Citation

  • Chen, Huaizhi & Cohen, Lauren & Gurun, Umit & Lou, Dong & Malloy, Christopher, 2020. "IQ from IP: simplifying search in portfolio choice," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 101133, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:101133
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    File URL: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/101133/
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    8. Paul Brockman & Dennis Y Chung & Neal M Snow, 2023. "Search-Based Peer Groups and Commonality in Liquidity," Review of Finance, European Finance Association, vol. 27(1), pages 33-77.
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    10. Sean Shun Cao & Kai Du & Baozhong Yang & Alan L. Zhang, 2021. "Copycat Skills and Disclosure Costs: Evidence from Peer Companies’ Digital Footprints," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 59(4), pages 1261-1302, September.
    11. Dyer, Travis & Köchling, Gerrit & Limbach, Peter, 2024. "Traditional investment research and social networks: Evidence from Facebook connections," CFR Working Papers 24-03, University of Cologne, Centre for Financial Research (CFR).
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    tracked trades; return predictability; institutional trading; insider trading;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading
    • G23 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Non-bank Financial Institutions; Financial Instruments; Institutional Investors

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