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Journal of Accounting and Economics Vol. 25 No. 1 1998

Underwriting relationships, analysts' earnings forecasts and investment recommendations

Hsiou-wei Lin1; Maureen F. McNichols2

1 National Taiwan University · 2 Stanford University

open access

Abstract

We examine the effect of underwriting relationships on analysts' earnings forecasts and recommendations. Lead and co-underwriter analysts' growth forecasts and recommendations are significantly more favorable than those made by unaffiliated analysts, although their earnings forecasts are not generally greater. Investors respond similarly to lead underwriter and unaffiliated `Strong buy' and `Buy' recommendations, but three-day returns to lead underwriter `Hold' recommendations are significantly more negative than those to unaffiliated `Hold' recommendations. The findings suggest investors expect lead analysts are more likely to recommend `Hold' when `Sell' is warranted. The post-announcement returns following affiliated and unaffiliated analysts' recommendations are not significantly different.

DOI
10.1016/s0165-4101(98)00016-0
Volume
25
Issue
1
Pages
101-127
Language
en
Sources
bibtex:phds-export.bib openalex crossref

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