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  • June 2012
  • Article
  • Harvard Business Review

Short Termism: Don't Blame the Investors

By: Francois Brochet, George Serafeim and Maria Loumioti
  • Format:Print
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Abstract

The article presents research on executives and corporation investor relations. A study is conducted of the language used by executives in conference calls discussing earnings with investors and financial analysts. A correlation was found between the use of language indicating a short-term focus by those executives and both their company's financial management practices and the company's stockholders, who were more likely to hold stock for short periods of time compared to other stocks.

Keywords

Financial Management; Business Earnings; Managerial Roles; Investment; Agency Theory; Communication Strategy; Business and Shareholder Relations

Citation

Brochet, Francois, George Serafeim, and Maria Loumioti. "Short Termism: Don't Blame the Investors." Harvard Business Review 90, no. 6 (June 2012).
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About The Author

George Serafeim

Accounting and Management
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More from the Authors
  • Vytal: Packaging-as-a-Service By: George Serafeim, Michael W. Toffel and Stacy Straaberg
  • Northvolt: Building Batteries to Fight Climate Change (B) By: George Serafeim, Debora L. Spar, Peter Tufano, Hugo Etchegoyhen and Emilie Billaud
  • Climate Solutions, Transition Risk, and Stock Returns By: Shirley Lu, Edward J. Riedl, Simon Xu and George Serafeim
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