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Journal of Finance Vol. 68 No. 1 2013

Analyst Forecast Consistency

Gilles Hilary; Charles Hsu1,2

1 Chinese University of Hong Kong · 2 Richard Wolf (Germany)

Abstract

We show empirically that analysts who display more consistent forecast errors have greater ability to affect prices, and that this effect is larger than that of stated accuracy. These results lead to three implications. First, consistent analysts are less likely to be demoted and are more likely to be nominated All Star analysts. Second, analysts strategically deliver downward‐biased forecasts to increase their consistency (if at the expense of stated accuracy). Finally, the benefits of consistency and of “lowballing” (accuracy) are increasing (decreasing) in institutional investors’ presence.

DOI
10.1111/j.1540-6261.2012.01800.x
Volume
68
Issue
1
Pages
271-297
Language
en
Sources
bibtex:phds-export.bib openalex crossref

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