The Library
The use of valuation models by UK investment analysts
Tools
Imam, Shahed, Barker, Richard and Clubb, Colin (2008) The use of valuation models by UK investment analysts. European Accounting Review, Volume 17 (Number 3). pp. 503-535. doi:10.1080/09638180802016650 ISSN 0963-8180.
Research output not available from this repository.
Request-a-Copy directly from author or use local Library Get it For Me service.
Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09638180802016650
Abstract
This paper examines the use of valuation models by UK investment analysts. The study is based on, first, semi-structured interviews with 35 sell-side analysts from 10 leading investment banks and with 7 buy-side analysts from 3 asset management firms and, second, content analysis based on 98 equity research reports for FTSE-100 companies covered by the sell-side interviewees. We observe that analysts perceive the discounted cash flow (DCF) (and to some extent 'sophisticated' models in general) to have become significantly more important than prior survey evidence suggests, although we also find the (somewhat paradoxical) continued importance of 'unsophisticated' valuation multiples, notably the price/earnings ratio (PE). We find perceived limitations in the technical applicability of the DCF, which cause analysts to rely in practice upon valuation multiples and subjective judgement of whether the market price 'feels right'. We also find that contextual factors, notably the analysts' need for their research to be credible to buy-side clients, cause the use of subjective, unsophisticated methods of valuation to be played down. Given the inherent flexibility of the DCF model, coupled with its ostensible credibility, it becomes the natural vehicle for conveying the analyst's research, even though it is very rarely relied upon to determine target prices and investment recommendations. We conclude that, while the literature has focused on the technical merits of alternative valuation models, analysts' actual usage of valuation models also requires an understanding of social and economic context and motivations.
Item Type: | Journal Article | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Subjects: | H Social Sciences > HG Finance | ||||
Divisions: | Faculty of Social Sciences > Warwick Business School > Accounting Faculty of Social Sciences > Warwick Business School |
||||
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): | Corporations -- Valuation -- Mathematical models, Investment analysis -- Great Britain | ||||
Journal or Publication Title: | European Accounting Review | ||||
Publisher: | Routledge | ||||
ISSN: | 0963-8180 | ||||
Official Date: | 2008 | ||||
Dates: |
|
||||
Volume: | Volume 17 | ||||
Number: | Number 3 | ||||
Number of Pages: | 33 | ||||
Page Range: | pp. 503-535 | ||||
DOI: | 10.1080/09638180802016650 | ||||
Status: | Peer Reviewed | ||||
Publication Status: | Published | ||||
Access rights to Published version: | Restricted or Subscription Access |
Data sourced from Thomson Reuters' Web of Knowledge
Request changes or add full text files to a record
Repository staff actions (login required)
View Item |