ARTICLE | Management Science | Vol.65, 2019

Abstract

We argue that hedge funds more aggressively buy underpriced stocks when they can short and, as such, protect their stock purchases from industry fluctuations. We utilize the institutional feature in Hong Kong in virtue of which only stocks added to a special list can be shorted. Our first-stage analysis uses hedge fund holdings data and provides evidence that the emergency of shortable securities, indeed, causes hedge funds to more aggressively buy seemingly underpriced stocks. Our second-stage analysis presents evidence that hedge funds’ increased involvement in these stocks helps correct under-pricing and moves prices in the direction of fundamentals.