A comparison of factors affecting UK and US analyst forecast revisions

Abstract An important task of the sell-side financial analyst is to provide investors with estimates of corporate earnings per share (EPS). In this study, we examine if analysts from countries with comparable equities markets, regulatory requirements, accounting standards, and disclosure policies are influenced by similar factors in revising an earnings estimate. The results of a survey sent to UK and US financial analysts indicate that in general the two groups do consider the same factors to be important. However, there are significant differences in the relative importance of some of the factors examined. These differences are most likely attributable to the more international focus of the UK analyst and the greater reliance of the US analyst on guidance from management.