The Journal of Finance

The Journal of Finance publishes leading research across all the major fields of finance. It is one of the most widely cited journals in academic finance, and in all of economics. Each of the six issues per year reaches over 8,000 academics, finance professionals, libraries, and government and financial institutions around the world. The journal is the official publication of The American Finance Association, the premier academic organization devoted to the study and promotion of knowledge about financial economics.

AFA members can log in to view full-text articles below.

View past issues


Search the Journal of Finance:






Search results: 3.

Determinants of Financial Structure: a New Methodological Approach

Published: 06/01/1979   |   DOI: 10.1111/j.1540-6261.1979.tb02130.x

MICHAEL G. FERRI, WESLEY H. JONES


Short‐Selling Prior to Earnings Announcements

Published: 11/27/2005   |   DOI: 10.1111/j.1540-6261.2004.00681.x

Stephen E. Christophe, Michael G. Ferri, James J. Angel

This paper examines short‐sales transactions in the five days prior to earnings announcements of 913 Nasdaq‐listed firms. The tests provide evidence of informed trading in pre‐announcement short‐selling because they reveal that abnormal short‐selling is significantly linked to post‐announcement stock returns. Also, the tests indicate that short‐sellers typically are more active in stocks with low book‐to‐market valuations or low SUEs. The levels of pre‐announcement short‐selling, however, mostly appear to reflect firm‐specific information rather than these fundamental financial characteristics. We believe that these results should encourage financial market regulators to consider providing more extensive and timely disclosures of short‐selling to investors.


A Note on Unsuccessful Tender Offers and Stockholder Returns

Published: 12/01/1988   |   DOI: 10.1111/j.1540-6261.1988.tb03970.x

FRANK J. FABOZZI, MICHAEL G. FERRI, T. DESSA FABOZZI, JULIA TUCKER

Recent research shows that unsuccessful tender offers may affect target share returns for two years past the offer's announcement. This note examines target returns in the interim between the announcement and one year after the offer's withdrawal. Analyzing a recent sample of targets that did not get another bid in the year following a failed tender offer, this study reaches two conclusions. First, all of an offer's premium disappears by the time failure becomes public. Second, excess returns are zero in the post‐failure year. An explanation that is based on the causes of the tender offers' failures is presented.