Analyst Report Readability, Earnings Uncertainty and Stock Returns

51 Pages Posted: 4 May 2013 Last revised: 25 Jun 2013

See all articles by Chia‐Chun Hsieh

Chia‐Chun Hsieh

National Chung Cheng University

Kai Wai Hui

University of Hong Kong

Date Written: June 2013

Abstract

This study investigates the association among readability of analyst reports, stock prices, and expectations of future earnings. Readability is one important feature of analyst reports that may affect value-relevant information. We find that analyst report readability reduces forecast dispersion but is not associated with revision news, and that market reactions are significantly positive towards more readable reports. In addition, we document that the market reacts positively to the reduction of forecast dispersion predicted by report readability. Finally, the positive effect of readability on stock prices is higher when it effectively reduces investors’ costs to process analyst report information, specifically when forecasting firms have more R&D spending, when transaction costs are higher, when analysts are more experienced, or when forecasts are issued after earnings announcements. Overall, our empirical findings suggest that the writing of analysts’ reports reduces uncertainty about future earnings, and investors price that reduction of uncertainty. This contributes to the understanding of the role of analysts as information intermediaries for investors.

Keywords: Readability, Analyst Report, Earnings Uncertainty, Stock Returns

JEL Classification: G10, M40

Suggested Citation

Hsieh, Chia-Chun and Hui, Kai Wai, Analyst Report Readability, Earnings Uncertainty and Stock Returns (June 2013). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2182422 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2182422

Chia-Chun Hsieh

National Chung Cheng University ( email )

Min-Shiung, Chia-Yi, 621
Taiwan

Kai Wai Hui (Contact Author)

University of Hong Kong ( email )

Pokfulam Road
Hong Kong, Pokfulam
Hong Kong

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