Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/228095 
Year of Publication: 
2020
Series/Report no.: 
IES Working Paper No. 13/2020
Publisher: 
Charles University in Prague, Institute of Economic Studies (IES), Prague
Abstract: 
We develop a four-factor model intended to capture size, value, and credit rating transition patterns in excess returns for a panel of predominantly mid- and large-cap entities. Using credit transition matrices and rating histories from 48 US issuers, we provide evidence to support a statistically significant negative downgrade risk premium in excess returns, suggesting that stocks at higher risk of failure tend to deliver lower returns. The performance of the model remains robust across several estimation methods. Panel Granger causality test results indicate that there indeed is a Granger-causal relationship from credit rating transition probabilities to excess returns. Our paper thus provides a new methodology to generate firm-level downgrade probabilities and the basis for further empirical validation and development of Fama-French-type models under financial distress.
Subjects: 
Asset pricing
credit risk
panel data
stock returns
transition matrices
JEL: 
G11
G12
G14
G41
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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