We analyze a novel alpha momentum strategy that invests in stocks based on three-factor alphas which we estimate using daily returns. The empirical analysis for the U.S. and for Europe shows that i) past alpha has power in predicting the cross-section of stock returns, ii) alpha momentum...

The rising sustainability awareness among regulators, consumers and investors results in major sustainability risks for firms. We construct three ESG risk factors (Environmental, Social, and Governance) to quantify the ESG risk exposures of firms. Taking these factors into account significantly...

This paper explores withholding tax non-compliance in the context of dividend taxation. It focuses on a specific type of stock-market transactions around ex-dividend dates, so-called “cum-ex” trades, which caused considerable revenue losses due to illegitimate tax refunds in Germany and...

This paper examines the effect of Environmental-, Social- and Governance- (ESG) rating events on returns and risks of stocks based on a large sample of US firms and their MSCI ESG ratings. Using event study methodology, we find that markets react with significant negative abnormal returns to...

We investigate the implications of environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices of firms for the pricing of credit default swaps (CDS). Our evidence indicates that higher ESG ratings mitigate credit risks of U.S. and European firms from 2007 to 2019. The risk mitigation effect is...

This study examines spillover effects following Volkswagen's admission of emissions cheating. We first estimate initial operational losses of 8.45% of Volkswagen's equity market capitalization on the date before the announcement, reputational losses up to five times these losses, and significant...