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The Price is (Almost) Right

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  • Randolph B. Cohen
  • Christopher Polk
  • Tuomo Vuolteenaho

Abstract

Most previous research tests market efficiency and asset pricing models using average abnormal trading profits on dynamic trading strategies, and typically rejects the joint hypothesis. In contrast, we measure the ability of a simple risk model and the efficient-market hypothesis to explain the level of stock prices. First, we find that cash-flow betas (measured by regressing firms' earnings on the market's earnings) explain the prices of value and growth stocks well, with a plausible premium. Second, we use a present-value model to decompose the cross-sectional variance of firms' price-to-book ratios into two components due to risk-adjusted fundamental value and mispricing. When we allow the discount rates to vary with cash-flow betas, the variance share of mispricing is negligible.

Suggested Citation

  • Randolph B. Cohen & Christopher Polk & Tuomo Vuolteenaho, 2003. "The Price is (Almost) Right," NBER Working Papers 10131, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:10131
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    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

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