Financial Social Media: A Quantitative Approach to Measuring Investor Sentiment Second Edition 2026 Edition

“Long overdue, Zhang’s Stock Message Boards provides a consistent, comprehensive, and analytical analysis of the functioning of stock message boards and their impact on financial asset pricing. Zhang clearly establishes the need for and benefit of thorough quantitative measurement and analysis of stock message boards and their operational effects.” (Peggy E. Swanson, Professor Emeritus, University of Texas at Arlington, USA)

“In finance, information is king. The internet has led to the democratization and rapid release of investor opinion. In Stock Message Boards, Zhang carefully discusses the different market participants and delineates between announcements that are news and noise.” (Steve Swidler, J. Stanley Mackin Professor of Finance, Auburn University, USA)

“Zhang helps readers navigate through the maze of social media terminology and practices, captivating the reader with stories of soaring and plunging stock prices brought on by message board activities … This book is a must-read for stock market practitioners, scholars, and policymakers, especially during the current era of social media.” (Larry Lockwood, Stan Block Endowed Chair in Finance, Texas Christian University, USA)

“A landmark contribution to the study of financial social media. Zhang’s book blends rigorous theory with rich empirical evidence to show how online discussions shape markets, investors, and governance. This is essential reading for scholars, students, practitioners, and researchers of finance in the digital age.”

—Sheryl-Ann Stephen, Professor of Finance, Butler University, USA

“A timely and important contribution to understanding how online conversations—from meme-stock manias to AI-driven trading signals—are reshaping markets. With clarity and rigor, Zhang reveals how social media sentiment moves returns, volatility, and governance, making this a must-read for scholars, practitioners, and policymakers.”

—Wikrom ‘Art’ Prombutr, PhD, Professor, Dept. of Finance, College of Business, California State University Long Beach, USA

“Ying Zhang’s Financial Social Media is the first comprehensive, data-driven guide to how online investor conversations shape markets—linking measurable sentiment to returns, volume, volatility, liquidity, and even firm reputation. With clear theory, NLP-based measurement, and evidence that effects are strongest for small-cap and financially distressed firms, this book will be indispensable to investors, regulators, and researchers.”

—J. Andrew Hansz, PhD, CFA, Gould/Mayfield Professorship in Real Estate & Urban Development, Department of Finance & Real Estate, The University of Texas at Arlington, USA

Ying Zhang is Associate Professor at Fairfield University, USA, and serves/served on the editorial boards of the Journal of Mathematical Finance, Journal of Real Estate Practice and Education, Journal of Real Estate Literature, International Business & Management and the American Journal of Theoretical and Applied Business. His research focuses in the areas of international equity diversification, real estate assets allocation, REITs, asset pricing, portfolio management, and financial social media.

Dr. Zhang has published articles in peer-reviewed journals, such as Journal of Banking & Finance, Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Journal of Financial Research, Real Estate Economics, Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics, and Journal of Real Estate Research. He has also made frequent presentations at national and international scholarly conferences, such as Financial Management Association (FMA) and the American Real Estate Society (ARES).