US executives have been able to secure more favourable research ratings for their companies from investment banks by bestowing professional favours on Wall Street analysts, according to new academic research to be published on Friday.
The study found that by offering analysts favours, ranging from recommending them for a job to agreeing to speak to their clients, executives sharply reduced the chances of a downgrade in the aftermath of poor results or a controversial deal.
The unprecedented research, carried out on some 1,800 equity analysts and hundreds of executives, suggests that the radical regulatory reforms of the past few years have failed fully to eradicate conflicts of interests on Wall Street.
“Favour-rendering to analysts is evidently widespread and . . . it seems to be compromising the value of the guidance these experts provide to investors,” said Michael Clement of University of Texas, who co-authored the study with James Westphal of University of Michigan.
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