Ibnu Qizam ·Entrepreneurial Business and Economics Review ·2021
The objective of the article is to investigate two issues. First, whether the Islamic bond (sukuk) ratings are the key determinant in affecting stock returns and, second, whether firm-characteristic variables moderate the sukuk ratings effect on stock returns. This study applied the panel estimated generalized least squares (EGLS) regression for two samples (from Indonesia and Malaysia) spanning two years, 2015-2016, for all variables, except for the intrinsic-value variable which spanned eight years, 2009-2016. The results show that the direct and positive effect of sukuk ratings on stock returns are significantly present in Malaysia but not in Indonesia, while the positive and significant moderating effects of firm-characteristic variables – especially leverage and intrinsic value of the firm – are more pronounced in the positive sukuk rating-stock return relationship in Indonesia than in Malaysia.