An Overview of Analyst Forecast Research: A Bibliometric Analysis

Abstract

This paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of research on analyst forecasts by applying bibliometric techniques to identify influential contributors, collaboration patterns, and key research themes. A dataset of 1,995 documents published between 1975 and July 2025 was extracted from Scopus using the keywords "analyst forecast" and "analyst prediction". Bibliometric analysis was performed with VOSviewer and Biblioshiny to examine publication trends, influential authors, journals, and countries, as well as co-authorship networks, keyword co-occurrence, and citation structures. The results show a steady growth of publications, with Accounting Review and Review of Accounting Studies being the most influential journals. Gerald J. Lobo and Lawrence D. Brown emerge as leading authors, while the United States plays a dominant role in international collaboration. Keyword analysis highlights themes of forecast accuracy, market efficiency, behavioral biases, and corporate governance, with recent attention to uncertainty and asset pricing. Highly cited works form the intellectual foundation of this field. The study provides valuable insights for academics by highlighting key contributors, thematic clusters, and emerging trends, thereby guiding future research directions.