Market reaction to ER reports

I recently read an academic research report titled Information Content of Equity Analyst Reports. The study examines over 1000 equity research reports written by 50+ sell-side analysts from 11 different banks covering 46 industries. The biggest takeaway from this was that investors place the greatest reliance on the content of security analyst reports when it is a downgrade, and that the market reaction to price targets is most statistically significant compared to other variables.

Is it generally accepted that investors won’t rely as much on the content of reports when it is an upgrade or a hold?

Is it generally accepted that the market will react to price targets more than other variables contained in ER reports (e.g. % change in analyst earnings forecasts)?

6 Comments
 
Best Response

Probably because takes huge balls to have a sell or underperform rating on a stock and the only reason ou have a sell on a stock is if you are absolutely disgusted by it. That is the only opinion you can trust, if issued by an investment bank. The pressure to be bullish is tremendous for sell side analysts. Probably less so now than ten years ago, but still pretty high pressure.

 

[quote=SirPoopsaLot]Probably because takes huge balls to have a sell or underperform rating on a stock and the only reason ou have a sell on a stock is if you are absolutely disgusted by it. That is the only opinion you can trust, if issued by an investment bank. The pressure to be bullish is tremendous for sell side analysts. Probably less so now than ten years ago, but still pretty high pressure.

I understand there is pressure for sellside analysts to be bullish, and their upgrade recommendations hold less clout as a result. But there have to be reputable firms or sellside analysts that effect the market when they issue upgrades, right?

 
SirPoopsaLotProbably because takes huge balls to have a sell or underperform rating on a stock and the only reason ou have a sell on a stock is if you are absolutely disgusted by it. That is the only opinion you can trust, if issued by an investment bank. The pressure to be bullish is tremendous for sell side analysts. Probably less so now than ten years ago, but still pretty high pressure.

Are there any investment banks who have a particularly good reputation for not being overly bullish?

 
Analyst570 Are there any investment banks who have a particularly good reputation for not being overly bullish?

No. There are some specific analysts though.

 
Rdonahue7I recently read an academic research report titled Information Content of Equity Analyst Reports. The study examines over 1000 equity research reports written by 50+ sell-side analysts from 11 different banks covering 46 industries. The biggest takeaway from this was that investors place the greatest reliance on the content of security analyst reports when it is a downgrade, and that the market reaction to price targets is most statistically significant compared to other variables.

Is it generally accepted that investors won’t rely as much on the content of reports when it is an upgrade or a hold?

Is it generally accepted that the market will react to price targets more than other variables contained in ER reports (e.g. % change in analyst earnings forecasts)?

Can you provide me with the link of that report

Thanks

 

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