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MD&A Quality as Measured by the SEC and Analysts' Earnings Forecasts

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  • ORIE E. BARRON
  • CHARLES O. KILE
  • TERRENCE B. O'KEEFE

Abstract

This study examines the predictive value of Management Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) information. More specifically, this study tests the association between properties of analysts' earnings forecasts and MD&A quality, where MD&A quality is measured by the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC). We find that high MD&A ratings are associated with less error and less dispersion in analysts' earnings forecasts after controlling for many other expected influences on analysts' forecasts. We also find that estimated regression coefficients are consistent with MD&A information having a substantial effect on earnings forecasts. Finally, we find our results are driven by forward†looking disclosures about capital expenditures and operations, and also by historical disclosures about capital expenditures. These findings are consistent with the suggestion by many constituencies (including the SEC) that the type of information found in high quality MD&A is particularly relevant for predicting earnings.

Suggested Citation

  • Orie E. Barron & Charles O. Kile & Terrence B. O'Keefe, 1999. "MD&A Quality as Measured by the SEC and Analysts' Earnings Forecasts," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 16(1), pages 75-109, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:coacre:v:16:y:1999:i:1:p:75-109
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1911-3846.1999.tb00575.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Morse, Dale, 1980. "Asymmetrical Information in Securities Markets and Trading Volume," Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 15(5), pages 1129-1148, December.
    2. Lang, M & Lundholm, R, 1993. "Cross-Sectional Determinants Of Analyst Ratings Of Corporate Disclosures," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(2), pages 246-271.
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    Cited by:

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    5. Anna M. Cianci & Diana Falsetta, 2008. "Impact of investors’ status on their evaluation of positive and negative, and past and future information," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 48(5), pages 719-739, December.
    6. Liu, Qigui & Wang, Junyi & Chi, Wenqiang, 2022. "The spillover effects of innovation content disclosure in MD&A," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    7. Aboud, Ahmed & Roberts, Clare & Mansour Zalata, Alaa, 2018. "The impact of IFRS 8 on financial analysts’ earnings forecast errors: EU evidence," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 33(C), pages 2-17.
    8. Elshandidy, Tamer & Ahmed, Yousry, 2023. "Stock price informativeness of risk disclosure: Does time orientation matter?," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 149-162.
    9. Denise A. Jones, 2007. "Voluntary Disclosure in R&D†Intensive Industries," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 24(2), pages 489-522, June.
    10. Peter M. Clarkson & Jennifer L. Kao & Gordon D. Richardson, 1999. "Evidence That Management Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) is a Part of a Firm's Overall Disclosure Package," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 16(1), pages 111-134, March.
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    12. Arnold, Vicky & Bedard, Jean C. & Phillips, Jillian R. & Sutton, Steve G., 2012. "The impact of tagging qualitative financial information on investor decision making: Implications for XBRL," International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, Elsevier, vol. 13(1), pages 2-20.
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    14. Eliwa, Yasser & Haslam, Jim & Abraham, Santhosh, 2021. "Earnings quality and analysts’ information environment: Evidence from the EU market," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 42(C).
    15. Stephen P. Baginski & Saverio Bozzolan & Antonio Marra & Pietro Mazzola, 2017. "Strategy, Valuation, and Forecast Accuracy: Evidence from Italian Strategic Plan Disclosures," European Accounting Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 26(2), pages 341-378, April.
    16. Beretta, Sergio & Bozzolan, Saverio, 2004. "A framework for the analysis of firm risk communication," The International Journal of Accounting, Elsevier, vol. 39(3), pages 265-288.
    17. Tzu-Ching Weng & Kai-Jui Hsu & Yi-Wei He, 2023. "The Impact of Corporate Political Connections on Analyst Forecast Quality," Journal of Applied Finance & Banking, SCIENPRESS Ltd, vol. 13(6), pages 1-1.
    18. Feng Li, 2010. "The Information Content of Forward‐Looking Statements in Corporate Filings—A Naïve Bayesian Machine Learning Approach," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 48(5), pages 1049-1102, December.
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