Exploring Long-Run Abnormal Performance Using Stochastic Dominance Criteria: Additional Evidence from Ipos

Abstract

We re-visit long-run performance after IPOs using a model-free stochastic dominance approach that allows us to compare the empirical distribution of portfolio payoffs while incorporating assumptions about investors' preferences. Our main results are as follows. First, we find that investors, who prefer more wealth to less, are indifferent between an IPO firm portfolio and commonly used benchmark portfolios. Second, we find little evidence that risk-averse investors prefer small size and low book-to-market benchmark portfolios to an IPO portfolio. We conclude that, In the case of IPOs at least, the question of abnormal underperformance may remain unresolved empirically, even with better statistical methods and a well-specified asset pricing model, due to the latitude available in the ex ante choice of a benchmark to compare relative performance.

Keywords: Stochastic Dominance, Initial Public Offering, Long-Run Stock Price Performance, Market Efficiency.

JEL Classification: D81, G11, G30