In short supply: Short-sellers and stock returns

M.D. Beneish, Charles Lee and D.C. Nichols

Journal of Accounting and Economics, 2015, vol. 60, issue 2, 33-57

Abstract: We examine the economic determinants of short-sale supply, and its consequences for future stock returns. Lendable supply increases with expected borrowing costs and decreases with financial statement constructs that indicate overvaluation. Although rising loan fees help ease supply constraints, we find shares are still least available when they are most attractive to short sellers. Using a number of firm characteristics, we derive useful instruments for real-time loan supply and demand conditions in the lending market. Further, we show that (1) when lendable supply is binding (non-binding), short-sale supply (demand) is the main predictor of future stock returns, (2) abnormal returns to the short-side of nine well-known market anomalies are attributable solely to “special” stocks, and (3) loan fees significantly reduce the profitability of the short side and several of these anomalies cease to be profitable. Overall our evidence highlights the central role played by the supply of lendable shares in equity price formation and returns prediction.

Keywords: Short selling; Security lending; Arbitrage costs; Overvaluation; Market efficiency (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: G14 G17 M4 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (40)

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Working Paper: In Short Supply: Short-Sellers and Stock Returns (2014)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jaecon:v:60:y:2015:i:2:p:33-57

DOI: 10.1016/j.jacceco.2015.08.001

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