Stock Market Overreaction to Management Earnings Forecasts

Abstract

I hypothesize that the stock market overreacts to management earnings forecasts. I find that negative management forecast surprises lead to a -5.9% abnormal return around the forecast and a 1.9% correction in the 2 -month period after earnings are announced. Positive surprises work in the opposite direction, with a 1.9% abnormal return and a -1.7% correction. The level of the stock market overreaction varies depending on forecast and firm characteristics, but the marginal impact remains the same: a 1% change in the stock market reaction around the forecast is associated with a 0.4% correction. These findings are consistent with the idea that investors overweight their recent experience in situation of increased uncertainty, leading to stock market overreaction.