Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-v9fdk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-16T01:44:52.447Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Interpreting Common Stock Returns around Proxy Statement Disclosures and Annual Shareholder Meetings

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 April 2009

Abstract

Numerous studies have analyzed the stock market reaction to information released in proxy statements. Two possible biases in proxy statement research are suggested frequently: misspecification of the return benchmark and a sample selection bias from analyzing only “clean” events. This paper presents evidence that most of the conclusions of existing studies are not affected by these potential biases. A significantly positive abnormal return was found around a random sample of shareholder meeting dates. The result indicates that interpreting event study results for announcements occurring around annual shareholder meetings must be conducted carefully. The results are consistent with the findings of Kalay and Loewenstein [14], who argue that risk and expected return can increase around predictable, information-producing events. Alternatively, the study can be viewed as being consistent with several recent studies that find anomalous results, using daily return data and large samples.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © School of Business Administration, University of Washington 1986

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.)

References

REFERENCES

[1]Bhagat, S.The Effect of Pre-emptive Right Amendments on Shareholder Wealth.” Journal of Financial Economics, 12 (11 1983), 289330.Google Scholar
[2]Bhagat, S., and Brickley, J. A.. “Cumulative Voting: The Value of Minority Shareholder Voting Rights.” Journal of Law and Economics, 27 (10 1984), 339365.Google Scholar
[3]Bhagat, S.; Brickley, J. A.; and Lease, R. C.. “Incentive Effects of Stock Purchase Plans.” Journal of Financial Economics, 14 (06 1985), 195215.Google Scholar
[4]Brickley, J. A.; Bhagat, S.; and Lease, R. C.. “The Impact of Long-Range Managerial Compensation Plans on Shareholder Wealth.” Journal of Accounting and Economics, 7 (04 1985), 115129.Google Scholar
[5]Brown, S. J., and Warner, J. B.. “Using Daily Stock Returns: The Case of Event Studies.” Journal of Financial Economics, 14 (03 1985), 331.Google Scholar
[6]Dann, L. Y.Common Stock Repurchases: An Analysis of Returns to Bondholders and Shareholders.” Journal of Financial Economics, 9 (06 1981), 113138.Google Scholar
[7]Dann, L. Y., and De Angelo, H.. “Standstill Agreements, Privately Negotiated Stock Repurchases, and the Market for Corporate Control.” Journal of Financial Economics, 11 (04 1983), 275300.Google Scholar
[8]De Angelo, H., and Rice, E. M.. “Anti-Takeover Charter Amendments and Shareholder Wealth.” Journal of Financial Economics, 11 (04 1983), 329359.Google Scholar
[9]Dodd, P., and Warner, J. B.. “On Corporate Governance: A Study of Proxy Contests.” Journal of Financial Economics, 11 (04 1983), 401438.Google Scholar
[10]Eades, K. M.; Hess, P. J.; and Kim, E. H.. “On Interpreting Security Returns during the Ex-Dividend Period.” Journal of Financial Economics, 13 (03 1984), 334.Google Scholar
[11]Eades, K. M.; Hess, P. J.; and Kim, E. H.Market Rationality and Dividend Announcements.” Journal of Financial Economics, 14 (12 1985), 581604.Google Scholar
[12]Grinblatt, M. S.; Masulis, R. W.; and Titman, S.. “The Valuation Effects of Stock Splits and Stock Dividends.” Journal of Financial Economics, 13 (12 1984), 459490.Google Scholar
[13]Hollander, M., and Wolfe, D.. Nonparametric Statistical Methods. New York: Wiley (1973).Google Scholar
[14]Kalay, A., and Loewenstein, U.. “Predictable Events and Excess Returns, The Case of Dividend Announcements.” Journal of Financial Economics, 14 (09 1985), 423449.Google Scholar
[15]Lambert, R. A., and Larcker, D. F.. “Golden Parachutes, Executive Decision Making, and Shareholder Wealth.” Journal of Accounting and Economics, 7 (04 1985), 179203.Google Scholar
[16]Larcker, D. F.The Association between Performance Plan Adoption and Corporate Capital Investment.” Journal of Accounting and Economics, 5 (04 1983), 330.Google Scholar
[17]Linn, S. C, and McConnell, J. J.. “An Empirical Investigation of Anti-Takeover Amendments on Common Stock Prices.” Journal of Financial Economics, 11 (04 1983), 361399.Google Scholar
[18]Robichek, A. A., and Myers, S. C.. “Conceptual Problems in the Use of Risk-Adjusted Discount Rates.” Journal of Finance, 21 (05 1966), 727730.Google Scholar
[19]Smith, C. W.Alternative Methods of Raising Capital: Rights versus Underwritten Offerings.” Journal of Financial Economics, 5 (12 1977), 273307.Google Scholar
[20]Tehranian, H., and Waegelein, J. R.. “Market Reaction to Short-Term Executive Compensation Plan Adoption.” Journal of Accounting and Economics, 7 (04 1985), 131144.Google Scholar