The influence of buy-side analysts on mutual fund trading

•We present evidence on the trading and performance impact of buy-side analysts.•Fund managers strongly follow recent recommendation revisions.•Trades triggered by buy-side recommendations have higher returns than other trades.•The impact of buy-side analysts is more pronounced than that of sell-side analysts. We present evidence on the trading and performance impact of buy-side analysts. Using data provided by a large global asset manager, we relate buy-side analysts’ recommendations to fund transactions on a daily basis. We show that buy-side analysts significantly influence trading decisions: Fund managers strongly follow recent recommendation revisions, even after controlling for other trading determinants. Positive abnormal returns to buy-side analysts’ revisions are also reflected in the performance of mutual fund trades: Trades triggered by buy-side recommendations have higher returns than other trades. Overall, the impact of buy-side analysts is more pronounced than that of sell-side analysts.