This is the first large-scale study to examine the peer companies used by sell-side equity analysts in their research reports. Using a unique hand-collected data set, we investigate the relation between peer valuation and peer choice by analysts. Controlling for numerous factors, we find that...

This is the first large-scale study to examine the peer companies used by sell-side equity analysts in their research reports. Using a unique hand-collected data set, we investigate the relation between peer valuation and peer choice by analysts. Controlling for numerous factors, we find that...

We study when and why firms exercise real options. Using detailed project-level investment data, we find that the likelihood that a firm exercises a real option is strongly related to peer exercise behavior. Peer exercise decisions are as important in explaining exercise behavior as variables...

Using a semiparametric smooth-coefficient partial adjustment model, this study finds evidence for asymmetric peer effects on capital structure adjustment speeds between overlevered and underlevered firms. Overlevered firms' adjustment speeds and peer firm shocks have a U-shaped relationship,...

The paper shows that peer information which banks collected from previous lending plays a role in current loan pricing. I construct peer information at the bank-firm level and find that firms obtain lower loan rates when borrowing from banks that lent to more similar peers in recent periods. The...

This research examines spillover effects of tax avoidance on peers' firm value using the setting of the European Commission's state aid investigations of private letter rulings. We assume that news about a firm's tax avoidance strategies also reveals information about peers' tax avoidance...

This study investigates whether economic policy uncertainty (EPU) magnifies peer effects in corporate investment in China. Through use of the peer-firm-average idiosyncratic stock return to capture exogenous variation in peer firms' investment activities, we show that peer effects are stronger...

We examine whether misvaluation of publicly traded industry peers is associated with capital expenditures by privately-held firms. An economic competition hypothesis predicts a negative relation because misvaluation-induced new investment by public firms crowds out investment by private firms...