Does soft shareholder activism hold hard consequences?

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of soft shareholder activism, as reported in media narratives, on stock market performance using an EGARCH methodology. Focusing on US-listed firms, we analyse how news articles discussing shareholder activism, ranging from formal proposals to informal expressions of investor concern, affect stock market returns and volatility. Our findings reveal that approximately one-fourth of the companies highlighted in these reports experience significant stock market fluctuations coinciding with media coverage. These effects are notably pronounced in firms with higher market capitalisation and robust financial metrics (ROE and ROA) but lower ESG scores and negative leverage. The study also establishes a strong correlation between firm performance metrics, particularly ROE and ROA, and market reactions around news publication dates. This pattern suggests that the market responds more intensely to companies with higher performance levels. The research contributes to understanding shareholder activism’s indirect influence on market dynamics through media, offering insights for companies, investors, and policymakers in the evolving landscape of shareholder activism and the media’s role therein.