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The Accounting Review Vol. 97 No. 2 2022

Expected Stock Returns Worldwide: A Log-Linear Present-Value Approach

Akash Chattopadhyay1; Matthew R. Lyle2; Charles C. Y. Wang3

1 University of Toronto · 2 Northwestern University · 3 Harvard University

Abstract

This study provides the first large-scale study of the performance of expected-return proxies (ERPs) internationally. Analyst-forecast-based ICCs are sparsely populated and not robustly associated with future returns. Earnings-model-forecast-based ICCs are well-populated, but are unreliable outside the U.S. We adapt and extend the log-linear and present-value (LPV) framework—combining an accounting valuation anchor, its expected growth, and market prices—for estimating ERPs internationally, and implement a correction for the use of stale accounting data. An LPV ERP anchored on the book value of equity is positively associated with future returns in 26 of 29 equity markets, and largely subsumes the predictive ability of a broad set of firm characteristics previously shown to be associated with expected returns.

DOI
10.2308/tar-2018-0289
Volume
97
Issue
2
Pages
107-133
Language
en
Sources
openalex bibtex:phds-export.bib crossref

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