Statistically rare; often carries "scarcity value" and can have a larger market impact. Summary of Performance Findings
: Analyzes the distribution of ratings and whether they can predict profitability.
: Buy-side "buy" recommendations often result in lower annual market-adjusted returns (2.3%) compared to sell-side ratings (8.2%), though these differences are partly due to the types of firms covered.
: On average, recommendations do not impose significant "abnormal returns" during the event window, suggesting markets are relatively efficient.
: Both ratings and earnings forecasts contain incremental value and are often more accurate than management's own forecasts. Understanding Rating Distributions
Here are several full research papers and detailed studies focusing on the effectiveness, distribution, and performance of stock "buy," "hold," and "sell" ratings. Key Research Papers on Stock Ratings
