Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-j824f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-15T10:51:36.781Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The Boss Knows Best: Directors of Research and Subordinate Analysts

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 November 2018

Abstract

Research departments are managed by directors of research (DORs). Subordinate analysts working for higher-quality DORs provide superior earnings forecasts that elicit stronger market reactions, provide better investment recommendations, and have better career outcomes. For the broker, higher-quality DORs drive more trading commissions. Economically, analysts benefit the most from DOR–analyst industry alignment resulting from DORs’ former analyst experience. We provide several tests to mitigate endogeneity concerns and explore various mechanisms to explain these results. Overall, our article identifies a unique channel whereby the industry-specific and general human capital of top management filters through to individual subordinates and consequently improves organizational performance.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Michael G. Foster School of Business, University of Washington 2018 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

1

We thank Justin Birru, Lauren Cohen, Jennifer Conrad (the editor), Michael Cook, Laura Field, Andrew Fodor, David Haushalter, Paul Irvine, Russell Jame, Tomas Jandik, Wayne Lee, Leonardo Madureira (the referee), Alexey Malakhov, Peter Park, Andy Puckett, Sam Radnor, Jay Ritter, Thomas Shohfi, Geoff Warren, Jared Williams, and seminar participants at Florida State University, Pennsylvania State University, St. John’s University, the University of Arkansas, Ohio University, Miami University, the 2016 University of Tennessee Smokey Mountain Finance Conference, the 2015 World Finance Conference, the 2015 Eastern Finance Association Meeting, and the 2016 Financial Management Association Meeting for many helpful comments. We are responsible for all errors.

References

Abadie, A.; Drukker, D.; Herr, J. L.; and Imbens, G. W.. “Implementing Matching Estimators for Average Treatment Effects in Stata.” Stata Journal, 4 (2004), 290311.Google Scholar
Adams, R. B.; Almeida, H.; and Ferreira, D.. “Powerful CEOs and Their Impact on Corporate Performance.” Review of Financial Studies, 18 (2005), 14031432.Google Scholar
Asquith, P.; Mikhail, M. B.; and Au, A. S.. “Information Content of Equity Analyst Reports.” Journal of Financial Economics, 75 (2005), 245282.Google Scholar
Bae, K.-H.; Stulz, R.; and Tan, H.. “Do Local Analysts Know More? A Cross-Country Study of the Performance of Local Analysts and Foreign Analysts.” Journal of Financial Economics, 88 (2008), 581606.Google Scholar
Barber, B. M.; Lehavy, R.; McNichols, M.; and Trueman, B.. “Buys, Holds, and Sells: The Distribution of Investment Banks’ Stock Ratings and the Implications for the Profitability of Analysts’ Recommendations.” Journal of Accounting and Economics, 41 (2006), 87117.Google Scholar
Bennedsen, M.; Pérez-González, F.; and Wolfenzon, D.. “Do CEOs Matter?” Working Paper, INSEAD, Stanford University, and Columbia University (2010).Google Scholar
Bertrand, M., and Schoar, A.. “Managing with Style: The Effect of Managers on Firm Policies.” Quarterly Journal of Economics, 118 (2003), 11691208.Google Scholar
Boni, L., and Womack, K. L.. “Analysts, Industries, and Price Momentum.” Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, 41 (2006), 85109.Google Scholar
Bradley, D.; Gokkaya, S.; and Liu, X.. “Before an Analyst Becomes an Analyst: Does Industry Experience Matter?Journal of Finance, 72 (2017), 751792.Google Scholar
Bradley, D.; Gokkaya, S.; and Liu, X.. “Ties That Bind: Professional Connections and Sell-Side Research.” Management Science, forthcoming (2019).Google Scholar
Brown, L. D.; Call, A. C.; Clement, M. B.; and Sharp, N. Y.. “Skin in the Game: The Inputs and Incentives That Shape Buy-Side Analysts’ Stock Recommendations.” Working Paper, Temple University, Arizona State University, University of Texas at Austin, and Texas A&M University (2014).Google Scholar
Brown, L. D.; Call, A. C.; Clement, M. B.; and Sharp, N. Y.. “Inside the ‘Black Box’ of Sell-Side Financial Analysts.” Journal of Accounting Research, 53 (2015), 147.Google Scholar
Bushee, B. J., and Goodman, T. H.. “Which Institutional Investors Trade Based on Private Information about Earnings and Returns?Journal of Accounting Research, 45 (2007), 289321.Google Scholar
Bushee, B. J., and Miller, G. S.. “Investor Relations, Firm Visibility, and Investor Following.” Accounting Review, 87 (2012), 867897.Google Scholar
Carhart, M. M.On Persistence in Mutual Fund Performance.” Journal of Finance, 52 (1997), 5782.Google Scholar
Cici, G.; Trapp, M.; Göricke, M. A.; and Kempf, A.. “The Investment Value of Fund Managers Experience Outside the Financial Sector.” Available at https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2498797 (2014).Google Scholar
Clarke, J.; Khorana, A.; Patel, A.; and Rau, P. R.. “The Impact of All-Star Analyst Job Changes on Their Coverage Choices and Investment Banking Deal Flow.” Journal of Financial Economics, 84 (2007), 713737.Google Scholar
Clement, M.Analyst Forecast Accuracy: Do Ability, Resources and Portfolio Complexity Matter?Journal of Accounting and Economics, 27 (1999), 285303.Google Scholar
Clement, M. B., and Tse, S. Y.. “Do Investors Respond to Analysts’ Forecast Revisions as If Forecast Accuracy Is All That Matters?Accounting Review, 78 (2003), 227249.Google Scholar
Cohen, L.; Frazzini, A.; and Malloy, C.. “Sell-Side School Ties.” Journal of Finance, 65 (2010), 14091437.Google Scholar
Conrad, J. S.; Johnson, K. M.; and Wahal, S.. “Institutional Trading and Soft Dollars.” Journal of Finance, 56 (2001), 397422.Google Scholar
Custódio, C., and Metzger, D.. “How Do CEOs Matter? The Effect of Industry Expertise on Acquisition Returns.” Review of Financial Studies, 26 (2013), 20082047.Google Scholar
Custódio, C., and Metzger, D.. “Financial Expert CEOs: CEO’s Work Experience and Firm’s Financial Policies.” Journal of Financial Economics, 114 (2014), 125154.Google Scholar
Daniel, K.; Grinblatt, M.; Titman, S.; and Wermers, R.. “Measuring Mutual Fund Performance with Characteristic-Based Benchmarks.” Journal of Finance, 52 (1997), 10351058.Google Scholar
Dittmar, A. K., and Duchin, R.. “Looking in the Rear View Mirror: The Effect of Managers’ Professional Experience on Corporate Financial Policy.” Review of Financial Studies, 29 (2015), 565602.Google Scholar
Duchin, R.; Matsusaka, J. G.; and Ozbas, O.. “When Are Outside Directors Effective?Journal of Financial Economics, 96 (2010), 195214.Google Scholar
Ellis, K.; Michaely, R.; and O’Hara, M.. “The Making of a Dealer Market: From Entry to Equilibrium in the Trading of Nasdaq Stocks.” Journal of Finance, 57 (2002), 22892316.Google Scholar
Fahlenbrach, R.; Low, A.; and Stulz, R. M.. “Why Do Firms Appoint CEOs as Outside Directors?Journal of Financial Economics, 97 (2010), 1232.Google Scholar
Falato, A.; Milbourn, T. T.; and Li, D.. “CEO Pay and the Market for CEOs.” Available at https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2191192 (2012).Google Scholar
Fama, E. F., and French, K. R.. “Common Risk Factors in the Returns on Stocks and Bonds.” Journal of Financial Economics, 33 (1993), 356.Google Scholar
Giannetti, M.; Liao, G.; and Yu, X.. “The Brain Gain of Corporate Boards: Evidence from China.” Journal of Finance, 70 (2015), 16291682.Google Scholar
Gleason, C. A., and Lee, C. M.. “Analyst Forecast Revisions and Market Price Discovery.” Accounting Review, 78 (2003), 193225.Google Scholar
Goldstein, M. A.; Irvine, P.; Kandel, E.; and Wiener, Z.. “Brokerage Commissions and Institutional Trading Patterns.” Review of Financial Studies, 22 (2009), 51755212.Google Scholar
Golubov, A.; Yawson, A.; and Zhang, H.. “Extraordinary Acquirers.” Journal of Financial Economics, 116 (2015), 314330.Google Scholar
Green, T. C.; Jame, R.; Markov, S.; and Subasi, M.. “Access to Management and the Informativeness of Analyst Research.” Journal of Financial Economics, 2 (2014a), 239255.Google Scholar
Green, T. C.; Jame, R.; Markov, S.; and Subasi, M.. “Broker-Hosted Investor Conferences.” Journal of Accounting and Economics, 58 (2014b), 142166.Google Scholar
Groysberg, B.; Healy, P. M.; and Maber, D. A.. “What Drives Sell-Side Analyst Compensation at High-Status Investment Banks?Journal of Accounting Research, 49 (2011), 9691000.Google Scholar
Groysberg, B., and Lee, L. E.. “Star Power: Colleague Quality and Turnover.” Industrial and Corporate Change, 19 (2010), 741765.Google Scholar
Hong, H., and Kubik, J.. “Analyzing the Analysts: Career Concerns and Biased Earnings Forecasts.” Journal of Finance, 58 (2003), 313351.Google Scholar
Hong, H.; Kubik, J. D.; and Solomon, A.. “Security Analysts’ Career Concerns and Herding of Earnings Forecasts.” Rand Journal of Economics, 58 (2000), 121144.Google Scholar
Huang, J., and Kisgen, D. J.. “Gender and Corporate Finance: Are Male Executives Overconfident Relative to Female Executives?Journal of Financial Economics, 108 (2013), 822839.Google Scholar
Hutton, A. P.; Lee, L. F.; and Shu, S. Z.. “Do Managers Always Know Better? The Relative Accuracy of Management and Analyst Forecasts.” Journal of Accounting Research, 50 (2012), 12171244.Google Scholar
Jacob, J.; Lys, T. Z.; and Neale, M. A.. “Expertise in Forecasting Performance of Security Analysts.” Journal of Accounting and Economics, 28 (1999), 5182.Google Scholar
Jenter, D.; Lewellen, K.; and Warner, J. B.. “Security Issue Timing: What Do Managers Know, and When Do They Know It?Journal of Finance, 66 (2011), 413443.Google Scholar
Jenter, D.; Matveyev, E.; and Roth, L.. “Good and Bad CEOs.” Presentation, American Finance Association Meeting (2017).Google Scholar
Juergens, J. L., and Lindsey, L.. “Getting Out Early: An Analysis of Market Making Activity at the Recommending Analyst’s Firm.” Journal of Finance, 64 (2009), 23272359.Google Scholar
Kacperczyk, M.; Sialm, C.; and Zheng, L.. “On the Industry Concentration of Actively Managed Equity Mutual Funds.” Journal of Finance, 60 (2005), 19832011.Google Scholar
Kadan, O.; Madureira, L.; Wang, R.; and Zach, T.. “Analysts’ Industry Expertise.” Journal of Accounting and Economics, 54 (2012), 95120.Google Scholar
Kaplan, S. N.; Klebanov, M. M.; and Sorensen, M.. “Which CEO Characteristics and Abilities Matter?Journal of Finance, 67 (2012), 9731007.Google Scholar
Kelly, B., and Ljungqvist, A.. “Testing Asymmetric-Information Asset Pricing Models.” Review of Financial Studies, 25 (2012), 13661413.Google Scholar
Kempf, E.; Manconi, A.; and Spalt, O.. “Learning by Doing: The Value of Experience and the Origins of Skill for Mutual Fund Managers.” Available at https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2124896 (2014).Google Scholar
Liu, X., and Ritter, J. R.. “Local Underwriter Oligopolies and IPO Underpricing.” Journal of Financial Economics, 102 (2011), 579601.Google Scholar
Malloy, C. J.The Geography of Equity Analysis.” Journal of Finance, 60 (2005), 719755.Google Scholar
Malmendier, U., and Tate, G.. “Superstar CEOs.” Quarterly Journal of Economics, 124 (2009), 15931638.Google Scholar
Masulis, R.; Ruzzier, C.; Xiao, S.; and Zhao, S.. “Do Independent Expert Directors Matter?” Working Paper, University of New South Wales (2014).Google Scholar
Merkley, K. J.; Michaely, R.; and Pacelli, J. M.. “Does the Scope of Sell-Side Analyst Industry Matter? An Examination of Bias, Accuracy and Information Content of Analyst Reports.” Journal of Finance, 72 (2017), 12851334.Google Scholar
Nguyen, B., and Nielsen, K. M.. “The Value of Independent Directors: Evidence from Sudden Deaths.” Journal of Financial Economics, 98 (2010), 550567.Google Scholar
Oyer, P.The Making of an Investment Banker: Stock Market Shocks, Career Choice, and Lifetime Income.” Journal of Finance, 63 (2008), 26012628.Google Scholar
Pan, Y.; Wang, T. Y.; and Weisbach, M. S.. “Learning about CEO Ability and Stock Return Volatility.” Review of Financial Studies, 28 (2015), 16231666.Google Scholar
Pástor, L., and Stambaugh, R. F.. “Liquidity Risk and Expected Stock Returns.” Journal of Political Economy, 111 (2003), 642685.Google Scholar
Philippon, T., and Reshef, A.. “An International Look at the Growth of Modern Finance.” Journal of Economic Perspectives, 27 (2013), 7396.Google Scholar
Piotroski, J. D., and Roulstone, D. T.. “The Influence of Analysts, Institutional Investors, and Insiders on the Incorporation of Market, Industry, and Firm-Specific Information into Stock Prices.” Accounting Review, 79 (2004), 11191151.Google Scholar
Schoar, A., and Zuo, L.. “Shaped by Booms and Busts: How the Economy Impacts CEO Careers and Management Styles.” Review of Financial Studies, 30 (2017), 14251456.Google Scholar
Stickel, S. E.Reputation and Performance among Security Analysts.” Journal of Finance, 47 (1992), 18111836.Google Scholar
Stomper, A.A Theory of Banks’ Industry Expertise, Market Power, and Credit Risk.” Management Science, 52 (2006), 16181633.Google Scholar
Womack, K. L.Do Brokerage Analysts’ Recommendations Have Investment Value?Journal of Finance, 51 (1996), 137167.Google Scholar
Xuan, Y.Empire-Building or Bridge-Building? Evidence from New CEOs’ Internal Capital Allocation Decisions.” Review of Financial Studies, 22 (2009), 49194948.Google Scholar
Supplementary material: File

Bradley et al. supplementary material

Bradley et al. supplementary material 1

Download Bradley et al. supplementary material(File)
File 344.7 KB