Do Markets Value Corporate Social Responsibility?

Xfi Centre for Finance and Investment, University of Exeter Discussion Paper No. 10/06

52 Pages Posted: 12 Dec 2010 Last revised: 4 Jan 2012

See all articles by Alan Gregory

Alan Gregory

University of Exeter Business School

Julie M. Whittaker

University of Exeter Business School

Xiaojuan Yan

University of Exeter

Date Written: November 30, 2011

Abstract

Renneboog, Ter Horst and Zhang (2008) highlight that the question of whether or not corporate social responsibility (CSR) is priced remains an open one. In this paper, using a comprehensive set of KLD indicators in Ohlson-model framework with robust two-way cluster analysis of standard errors, we show that indicators of corporate social responsibility are valued by markets. We also show that some valuation effects appear to be stronger in the post millennium period. Consistent with other evidence on implied cost of capital and CSR, we show that there are significant differences in factor loadings between high and low CSR stocks. Finally, we show that CSR effects are manifested at least in part by an increased persistence in abnormal earnings. Our evidence is consistent both with high CSR firms having a lower cost of capital and also with high CSR firms having lower expected adverse cash flow shocks.

Keywords: Corporate Social Responsibility, Socially Responsible Investment Returns, Valuation

Suggested Citation

Gregory, Alan and Whittaker, Julie M. and Yan, Xiaojuan, Do Markets Value Corporate Social Responsibility? (November 30, 2011). Xfi Centre for Finance and Investment, University of Exeter Discussion Paper No. 10/06, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1723126 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1723126

Alan Gregory (Contact Author)

University of Exeter Business School ( email )

Streatham Court
Xfi Building Rennes Dr.
Exeter, EX4 4JH
United Kingdom

Julie M. Whittaker

University of Exeter Business School ( email )

Streatham Court
Xfi Building, Rennes Dr.
Exeter, EX4 4JH
United Kingdom

Xiaojuan Yan

University of Exeter ( email )

Northcote House
The Queen's Drive
Exeter, Devon EX4 4QJ
United Kingdom

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