Does Short-Selling Amplify Price Declines or Align Stocks with Their Fundamental Values?
Management Science, Forthcoming
40 Pages Posted: 5 Oct 2005 Last revised: 15 Mar 2014
Date Written: October 23, 2013
Abstract
Critics of short-selling argue that short-sellers amplify price declines by targeting firms with falling prices in an unwarranted manner. Contrary to this viewpoint, we find that increases in short-interest for firms following a price decline are associated with measures of overpricing based on financial statement analysis. Our results extend to short-selling activity following market-wide declines. We also find evidence consistent with the profitability of short-selling following price declines being driven by valuation-based positions. Overall, our findings suggest short-sellers primarily undertake valuation-based strategies following price declines and have implications for regulators. Limiting short-selling following price declines is likely to impede efficient price discovery.
Keywords: Short-selling, price declines, fundamental analysis, market regulation
JEL Classification: G12, G14, M41
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation
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