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Signaling companies’ value is a major issue as regards for new entrepreneurs and investors. Due to the large number and the diversity of developed inventions and innovations, we investigate the capacity of patents to promote key innovations and generate potential financial investment opportunities. Relying on a comprehensive dataset including detailed information of 142.669 European patents requested and held by US companies, we highlight financial market sensitivity to potential signals issued from granted patents during their life-cycle using event study methodology. Our research offers significant contributions to the existing debate and knowledge on the topic. The main contribution lies in the examination of relevant events occurring during the whole patent lifecycle as well as their impacts on financial valuation of holding companies. The methodological contribution consists in the use of event study methodology for intellectual assets. Lastly, managerial recommendations are proposed based on our results.