Is Positive Sentiment in Corporate Annual Reports Informative? Evidence from Deep Learning
Forthcoming, Review of Asset Pricing Studies, 2021
59 Pages Posted: 15 Aug 2019 Last revised: 6 Jan 2021
Mehran Azimi
University of Massachusetts Boston - Department of Accounting and Finance
Anup Agrawal
University of Alabama - Culverhouse College of Commerce & Business Administration
Date Written: January 5, 2021
Abstract
We use a novel text classification approach from deep learning to more accurately measure sentiment in a large sample of 10-Ks. In contrast to most prior literature, we find that positive, and negative, sentiment predicts abnormal return and abnormal trading volume around 10-K filing date and future firm fundamentals and policies. Our results suggest that the qualitative information contained in corporate annual reports is richer than previously found. Both positive and negative sentiments are informative when measured accurately, but they do not have symmetric implications, suggesting that a net sentiment measure advocated by prior studies would be less informative.
Keywords: Corporate annual reports, 10-K filings, Textual analysis, Textual sentiment classification, Deep learning
JEL Classification: C81, D83, G10, G14, G30, M41
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation
Mehran Azimi
University of Massachusetts Boston - Department of Accounting and Finance ( email )
Boston, MA 02125
United States
Anup Agrawal (Contact Author)
University of Alabama - Culverhouse College of Commerce & Business Administration ( email )
Culverhouse College of Business
EFLS, Box 870224
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0224
United States
205-348-8970 (Phone)
205-348-0590 (Fax)
HOME PAGE: http://aagrawal.people.ua.edu/
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