ESG Disclosure and Firm Performance: An Asset-Pricing Approach

Disclosing information on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) parameters is voluntary for most firms across the world. Companies disclose their performance on ESG datapoints due to two main reasons—(i) to gain the trust of stakeholders through increased transparency and (ii) to comply with r...

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Main Authors: Vinay Khandelwal, Prashant Sharma, Varun Chotia
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-06-01
Series:Risks
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9091/11/6/112
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author Vinay Khandelwal
Prashant Sharma
Varun Chotia
author_facet Vinay Khandelwal
Prashant Sharma
Varun Chotia
author_sort Vinay Khandelwal
collection DOAJ
description Disclosing information on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) parameters is voluntary for most firms across the world. Companies disclose their performance on ESG datapoints due to two main reasons—(i) to gain the trust of stakeholders through increased transparency and (ii) to comply with regulations imposed by governments and investment houses. Using a dataset of companies disclosing ESG parameters during 2014–2021 from the S&P BSE 500 index, this study investigates the role of ESG disclosure on firm performance. We divide the constituent securities into three factors—size, value, and disclosure to study the premiums generated by firms on each factor using single-, double-, and triple-sorting approaches. We utilize time series regressions along with GRS tests to empirically test the presence of factor premiums. We find the significant role of factors size, value, disclosure, and a dummy variable for the COVID-19 pandemic period to explain the portfolio returns. The study found a negative ESG disclosure premium stating that firms with high levels of disclosure earn less returns compared with the firms with less disclosures. The findings of this study contrast with multiple studies in the past that have found a positive disclosure premium. Our findings help reconcile the mixed evidence on the disclosure–returns relationship.
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spelling doaj.art-9650e59847d44a9084f693536fd4cfbc2023-11-18T12:28:38ZengMDPI AGRisks2227-90912023-06-0111611210.3390/risks11060112ESG Disclosure and Firm Performance: An Asset-Pricing ApproachVinay Khandelwal0Prashant Sharma1Varun Chotia2Jaipuria Institute of Management Jaipur, Jaipur 302033, IndiaJaipuria Institute of Management Noida, Noida 201309, IndiaJaipuria Institute of Management Jaipur, Jaipur 302033, IndiaDisclosing information on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) parameters is voluntary for most firms across the world. Companies disclose their performance on ESG datapoints due to two main reasons—(i) to gain the trust of stakeholders through increased transparency and (ii) to comply with regulations imposed by governments and investment houses. Using a dataset of companies disclosing ESG parameters during 2014–2021 from the S&P BSE 500 index, this study investigates the role of ESG disclosure on firm performance. We divide the constituent securities into three factors—size, value, and disclosure to study the premiums generated by firms on each factor using single-, double-, and triple-sorting approaches. We utilize time series regressions along with GRS tests to empirically test the presence of factor premiums. We find the significant role of factors size, value, disclosure, and a dummy variable for the COVID-19 pandemic period to explain the portfolio returns. The study found a negative ESG disclosure premium stating that firms with high levels of disclosure earn less returns compared with the firms with less disclosures. The findings of this study contrast with multiple studies in the past that have found a positive disclosure premium. Our findings help reconcile the mixed evidence on the disclosure–returns relationship.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9091/11/6/112ESG disclosurefirm performanceasset pricingsustainabilityESGfinancial anomaly
spellingShingle Vinay Khandelwal
Prashant Sharma
Varun Chotia
ESG Disclosure and Firm Performance: An Asset-Pricing Approach
Risks
ESG disclosure
firm performance
asset pricing
sustainability
ESG
financial anomaly
title ESG Disclosure and Firm Performance: An Asset-Pricing Approach
title_full ESG Disclosure and Firm Performance: An Asset-Pricing Approach
title_fullStr ESG Disclosure and Firm Performance: An Asset-Pricing Approach
title_full_unstemmed ESG Disclosure and Firm Performance: An Asset-Pricing Approach
title_short ESG Disclosure and Firm Performance: An Asset-Pricing Approach
title_sort esg disclosure and firm performance an asset pricing approach
topic ESG disclosure
firm performance
asset pricing
sustainability
ESG
financial anomaly
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9091/11/6/112
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AT prashantsharma esgdisclosureandfirmperformanceanassetpricingapproach
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