ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Neglected firm effect

Hello, little one! Are you ready to learn about a topic called the neglected firm effect?

The neglected firm effect happens when investors or analysts don't pay enough attention to certain companies, even though those companies might be doing really well. It's kind of like when you have a favorite toy that you play with all the time, and you forget about all your other toys even though some of them are just as fun!

When investors and analysts don't pay enough attention to a company, they might not notice when that company is doing really well. That means the stock price (which is like how much the company is worth) might be lower than it should be. It's kind of like saying, "Hey, this toy is really cool and fun to play with, but I'm not going to pay as much for it as I would for my favorite toy."

Sometimes, the neglected firm effect can actually be good for investors who notice that a company might be worth more than what people are paying for it. They can buy stocks at a lower price and then sell them when the price goes up. It's like getting a really good deal on a toy and then selling it for even more than you paid for it!

So, in short, the neglected firm effect is when investors or analysts don't pay enough attention to certain companies, and that can cause the stock price to be lower than it should be. But if you notice that a company might be worth more than what people are paying for it, you might be able to make some money from it!