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Relative performance evaluation and strategic peer-harming disclosures

Author

Listed:
  • Bloomfield, Matthew J.
  • Heinle, Mirko
  • Timmermans, Oscar

Abstract

Many firms use relative stock performance to evaluate and incentivize their CEOs. We document that such firms routinely disclose information that harms their peers' stock prices, and sometimes explicitly mention the harmed peers, by name, in these disclosures. Consistent with deliberate sabotage, peer-harming disclosures appear to be aimed at peers whose stock price depressions are most likely to benefit the disclosing firms' CEOs. The pricing effect of these disclosures does not reverse, suggesting that the disclosures contain legitimate information regarding peers' prospects. In sum, our results suggest that relative performance evaluation in CEO pay motivates CEOs to internalize the externalities of their disclosures, and strategically disclose information that harms peers' stock prices, in order to improve their firms' relative standing within their peer group.

Suggested Citation

  • Bloomfield, Matthew J. & Heinle, Mirko & Timmermans, Oscar, 2024. "Relative performance evaluation and strategic peer-harming disclosures," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 122509, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:122509
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    File URL: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/122509/
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    relative performance evaluation; peer-harming actions; voluntary disclosure; sabotage; stock returns; capital markets;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates
    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading
    • J33 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Compensation Packages; Payment Methods
    • M41 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting - - - Accounting

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