Chapter 4: Institutional Investors

A large body of behavioral finance literature focuses on the behavioral biases of individual investors in their trading choices. The research shows that sophistication is related to the level at which these behavioral biases influence investors’ trading choices. This chapter reviews the literature on institutional investors’ trading behavior and finds that, consistent with the level of investor sophistication, institutional investors are less subject to the common behavioral biases. However, some behavioral biases are also present in institutional trading, and more so among less sophisticated practitioners. Evidence also shows that institutional investors engage in some trading choices such as herding, momentum trading, and under-diversification, which could be symptoms of behavioral biases. Based on the reviewed research, these trading behaviors are not value reducing. Overall, evidence indicates that institutional investors are less subject to behavioral biases, making markets more efficient.