Fundamental Analysis, Value-relevance, Earnings, Earnings persistence

This paper examines the value relevance of fair value data disclosed under SFAS 107 by banks for 1992 and 1993. Collectively, the evidence suggests differences between fair and book values of financial instruments are associated with market-to-book ratios. However, fair value disclosures for financial instruments other than securities are value-relevant only in limited settings. In addition, only in 1992 are fair value variables associated with market-to-book ratios after incorporating existing historical cost information. Further analysis suggests the weaker 1993 results are not necessarily due to increased measurement error in fair value numbers.

This paper examines the relationship between the level of short interest and stock returns in the Nasdaq market from June 1988 through December 1994. We find that heavily shorted firms experience significant negative abnormal returns ranging from −0.76 to −1.13 percent per month after controlling for the market, size, book‐to‐market, and momentum factors. These negative returns increase with the level of short interest, indicating that a higher level of short interest is a stronger bearish signal. We find that heavily shorted firms are more likely to be delisted compared to their size, book‐to‐market, and momentum matched control firms.