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Analyst Reactions to Expectations Management in the Post-Regulation Fair Disclosure Period

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  • Sherry Fang Li
  • Fang Sun
  • Fengyun Wu

Abstract

Using a uniquely hand-collected dataset, we examine how financial analysts react to expectations management in the post-Regulation Fair Disclosure (FD) period. We find evidence that management issues pessimistic public guidance to lower analysts’ expectations to a beatable level in the new regulatory environment. Majority of the analysts revised their forecasts downward immediately (in terms of days rather than weeks) after the issuance of a pessimistic public guidance. The magnitude of the downward revision is significantly greater for firms that beat the expectations through managerial guidance than firms that beat the expectations without guidance. In addition, firms that beat analysts’ expectations through pessimistic guidance are able to achieve a larger positive earnings surprise at the earnings announcement than the legitimate beaters.

Suggested Citation

  • Sherry Fang Li & Fang Sun & Fengyun Wu, 2014. "Analyst Reactions to Expectations Management in the Post-Regulation Fair Disclosure Period," The International Journal of Business and Finance Research, The Institute for Business and Finance Research, vol. 8(5), pages 47-58.
    • Handle: RePEc:ibf:ijbfre:v:8:y:2014:i:5:p:47-58
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Sherry Fang Li, 2019. "Capital Market Consequences Of Expectations Management In The Postregulation Fair Disclosure Period," Accounting & Taxation, The Institute for Business and Finance Research, vol. 11(1), pages 11-20.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Expectations Management; Earnings Guidance; Managerial Guidance; Regulation FD; Analysts’ Expectations;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • M41 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting - - - Accounting
    • M48 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting - - - Government Policy and Regulation

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