LDA quantification of 10-K Risk-Factors and the Information Content of Textual Reporting
51 Pages Posted: 16 Jun 2020
Date Written: May 23, 2020
Abstract
We use machine-learning to determine the information content of the Item 1A Risk Factors section of S&P 1500 10-Ks. We identify and quantify 30 risk-factors and show a strong positive relation between levels of and contemporaneous changes in risk-factors and proxies for the associated risks. Typically, 28% of cross-firm variation in a risk-proxy is explained by cross-firm variation in the associated risk-factor. Risk disclosure is not found to be forward-looking. Item 1A’s informativeness has not declined through time despite previously documented increases in boilerplate content, stickiness and redundancy. Indices of operating and financing risk help explain asset and equity volatility.
Keywords: risk-factors, textual analysis, 10-K, risk indices
JEL Classification: G10, G38, K22, M41
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation
Here is the Coronavirus
related research on SSRN
