Ties That Bind: The Value of Professional Connections to Sell-Side Analysts
Management Science, Forthcoming
67 Pages Posted: 13 Jun 2019 Last revised: 30 Jul 2019
Date Written: May 22, 2019
Abstract
We examine professional connections among executives and analysts formed through overlapping historical employment. Analysts with professional connections to coverage firms have more accurate earnings forecasts, and issue more informative buy and sell recommendations. These analysts are more likely to participate, be chosen first, and ask more questions during earnings conference calls and analyst/investor days. Homophily based on gender, age and ethnicity is orthogonal to professional connections. Brokers attract greater trade commissions on stocks covered by connected analysts. Firms benefit through securing research coverage and invitations to broker-hosted investor conferences emulating from these connections.
Keywords: analyst forecasts, analyst recommendations, all-star analysts, professional networks, professional connections, capital market relationships, management access, homophily, analyst coverage, Regulation FD, broker commissions, earnings conference calls, analyst/investor days, broker hosted conferences
JEL Classification: G10, G11, G20, G23, G24
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation