Bank Stock Returns And Quarterly Earnings: Price Responses To Imminent Earnings Announcements

Abstract

Numerous studies have documented that most of the stock price reaction to earnings announcements have occurred by the time the earnings information is made public. This study considers stock price reaction during the time period between the end of the accounting calendar when the forthcoming earnings information is ostensibly available to top management and the earnings release date to measure anticipatory price responses to imminent quarterly earnings announcements. Using bank stocks, the results indicate that portfolios composed of banks that eventually announce improved earnings show significant positive abnormal returns soon after the close of the accounting quarter while portfolios composed of banks that eventually publicize poor profit performance exhibit significant negative abnormal returns.