Do financial analysts' long-term growth forecasts matter? Evidence from stock recommendations and career outcomes

Prior literature portrays long-term growth (LTG) forecasts as nonsensical from a valuation perspective. Instead, we hypothesize that LTG forecasts signal high effort and ability to analyze firms' long-term prospects. We document stronger market response to stock recommendation revisions of analysts who publish accompanying LTG forecasts. We also hypothesize and find that these analysts are less likely to leave the profession or move to smaller brokerage houses. Consistent with Reg. FD's intention to promote fundamental analysis of long-term earnings prospects, post-Reg. FD observations drive our results. Overall, we identify previously undocumented benefits accruing to analysts who publish LTG forecasts. ► We investigate publication of analysts' long-term growth (LTG) forecasts. ► Analysts' LTG forecasts signal ability to gain informative long-term perspective. ► Investors respond more to analyst recommendations accompanied by LTG forecasts. ► Analysts publishing LTG forecasts with stock recommendations have more job security.