When noise can help

Do the divergent views given by analysts have an influential effect on stock prices? Researchers find out

When noise can help
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When the going gets tough, it is not just investors who are confused about which firm to back — uncertainty affects analysts, who investors depend on more during downturns, as well. This ends up making analyst output jagged and screechy. Roger K Loh and René M Stulz studied analyst reports between 1983 and 2011 and found that analysts tend to churn out divergent views during a crisis. However, despite the divergence, these views tend to have a much more influential effect on stock prices.  

Title: Is Sell-Side Research More Valuable in Bad Times?

Source: The National Bureau of Economic Research

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