Open Access
Enhancing learning in the finance classroom
(Universidad Politécnica de Valencia., 2022) Abinzano Guillén, María Isabel; Corredor Casado, María Pilar; Río Solano, María Cristina del; Ferrer Zubiate, Elena; González Urteaga, Ana; Mansilla Fernández, José Manuel; Martínez García, Beatriz; Muga Caperos, Luis Fernando; Gestión de Empresas; Enpresen Kudeaketa
This paper aims to describe a teaching-learning experience based on ProjectBased Learning (PBL). This experience is part of an educational innovation project devoted to transforming finance classes in various facets of financial advice. Specifically, the article focuses on the transformation process of a subject that studies financial markets and the assets traded in them. Based on this experience, the classroom becomes a financial consulting firm that advises investors on how to invest their capital. The results show us a remarkable active dedication of the students to the course, improved knowledge, and marks. In addition, the development of skills and values such as teamwork, autonomy, solidarity, equality, and professional skills are elements that encourage us to continue along this line.
Open Access
Analyst optimism and market sentiment: evidence from European corporate sustainability reporters
(Elsevier, 2024) Río Solano, María Cristina del; Ferrer Zubiate, Elena; López Arceiz, Francisco José; Institute for Advanced Research in Business and Economics - INARBE; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
This study investigates the effect of investor sentiment on analysts’ optimism bias for a set of European companies with high-quality non-financial information reporting. The contents of the reports should make stock recommendations for such firms that are less prone to sentiment-driven optimism bias; our observations show this to be the case. For further insight, we analysed the informative value of stock recommendations in high- and low-sentiment periods, taking sustainability reporting quality into account. We find that buy recommendations for high-sustainability stocks have no informational value when sentiment is high, whereas informative recommendations in the form of sell recommendations for low-sustainability stocks appear when sentiment is high.
Open Access
Financial advisory in classroom: educational innovation based on Project-Based Learning (PBL)
(Universidad Politecnica de Valencia, 2024-06-01) Abinzano Guillén, María Isabel; Bonilla Acosta, Harold; Corredor Casado, María Pilar; Río Solano, María Cristina del; Ferrer Zubiate, Elena; González Urteaga, Ana; Mansilla Fernández, José Manuel; Martínez García, Beatriz; Muga Caperos, Luis Fernando; Gestión de Empresas; Enpresen Kudeaketa
This paper aims to describe an educational innovation in teaching-learning based on Project-Based Learning (PBL) carried out in the subjects of "Basic Finance" taught in the Double Bachelor's Degree in Management, Business Administration, and Law of the Public University of Navarre (UPNA). These are Financial Markets and Instruments, Corporate Finance I, and Corporate Finance II. Specifically, in each of the subjects, the project consisted of preparing an advisory report. Thus, the classroom becomes a financial consultancy covering its different areas of work. Furthermore, this study evaluates the educational innovation, analysing both quantitative and qualitative aspects across subjects and gender. In summary, there is a significant improvement in grades after the introduction of PBL. Students also support the implementation of PBL, with gender differences found. Our findings motivate the continued use of dynamic teaching methods and underline the importance of adapting approaches to improve educational outcomes.
Open Access
Analysis of the feasibility of investment projects in real assets with PBL: a very real experience
(Universitat Politècnica de València, 2023) Abinzano Guillén, María Isabel; Bonilla Acosta, Harold; Corredor Casado, María Pilar; Río Solano, María Cristina del; Ferrer Zubiate, Elena; González Urteaga, Ana; Mansilla Fernández, José Manuel; Martínez García, Beatriz; Muga Caperos, Luis Fernando; Gestión de Empresas; Enpresen Kudeaketa
This paper studies the application of the PBL methodology in the Corporate Finance I course. The project to be carried out consists of the realization of a report on the feasibility of an investment project for a company that wants to take advantage of a subvention to finance the renovation of the bus fleet towards a more sustainable one. In addition to describing the implementation, this paper analyzes the impact that the introduction of the PBL methodology has in terms of class attendance and participation in the activity and also in the rest of the course. A clear decrease in absenteeism in class and in exams is observed. Moreover, the impact on grades is analyzed, with a significant increase in marks for all the degrees under study. Finally, we interpret the surveys that were passed to the students, showing that the students recognize the value of applying PBL in the subject.
Open Access
Sustainability disclosure and financial analysts' accuracy: the European case
(Wiley, 2020) Ferrer Zubiate, Elena; López Arceiz, Francisco José; Río Solano, María Cristina del; Institute for Advanced Research in Business and Economics - INARBE
This study aims to analyze whether the adoption of Directive 2014/95/EU on sustainability disclosure has contributed to more truthful reporting to financial analysts in terms of risks and firms' performance. Financial analysts, as requesters of sustainability reports, are expected to have produced more accurate forecasts as a result of this legal reform. To investigate this, we have examined analysts' earnings per share (EPS) forecasts for 434 companies, 241 of which are classified as low sustainability companies, from 2008 to 2017. To detect a possible increase in EPS forecast accuracy after the enforcement of the directive, we perform an analysis based on panel regression specifications. The results show that EPS forecast accuracy has increased due to the higher levels of both sustainability disclosure and reporting quality after the enforcement of Directive 2014/95/EU.