Informational role of analyst and investor days

Abstract

This study empirically clarifies whether analyst and investor days (AI days) affect earnings expectations of participants. The analyses reveal that the tone of the question-and-answer (Q&A) session, rather than that of the management presentation, is positively associated with subsequent revisions of analysts' earnings forecasts. This suggests that such an interactive discussion during a Q&A session plays a key role in affecting analysts' expectations. Furthermore, abnormal returns around the AI days are irrelevant to the tone of the Q&A session. This suggests that AI days mainly provide a partially known (supplemental) information rather than offering new information to analysts and investors.