We examine revisions to earnings forecasts by equity analysts and their role in predicting stock returns. We provide evidence that European stocks with net upward revised forecasts earn higher future returns than otherwise similar stocks. This effect is not concentrated in small stocks, stocks...

The purpose of this paper is to examine the extent to which analyst's earnings forecasts are influenced by brokerage house reputations in a UK setting. We use an I/B/E/S detail earnings estimate history file, an SDC dataset for providing data on IPO underwriting activities (proceeds,...

We study the problem of compensating a manager whose career concerns affect his investment strategy. We consider contracts that include cash, shares, and call options, focusing on the role of options in aligning incentives. We find that managers are optimally paid in cash, supplemented by a...

We study stochastic discount factor (SDF) models for evaluating investment performance. Constructing artificial funds with known levels of ability, we find that the measures of performance are not highly sensitive to the SDF model. Most of the models have a mild negative bias when performance is...

We examine the effects of securitization on two dimensions of consumer mortgage costs: coupon rates and loan origination fees. We find no evidence that securitization reduces the coupon rates on fixed or adjustable-rate mortgages. Instead, securitization appears to lower mortgage loan...

We study the use of stochastic discount factor (SDF) models in evaluating the investment performance of portfolio managers. By constructing artificial mutual funds with known levels of investment ability, we evaluate a large set of SDF models. We find that the measures of performance are not...