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Overvalued equity, benchmark beating and unexpected accruals

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  • Jeffrey J. Coulton
  • Naibuka Saune
  • Stephen L. Taylor
  • Steven Cahan

Abstract

type="main" xml:id="acfi12077-abs-0001"> We investigate the extent to which the overvaluation hypothesis provides incentives for managers to beat earnings benchmarks, and whether this benchmark beating can be reliably interpreted as evidence of earnings management. We carefully identify firms immediately above earnings benchmarks that have a priori, overvaluation-based incentives to achieve the benchmark. We therefore focus on benchmark-beating observations where manipulation is most likely, providing a more powerful test of the existence of opportunistic financial reporting. Consistent with overvaluation-related incentives encouraging earnings management, we find that overvalued firms that just exceed levels-related earnings benchmarks have higher unexpected accruals than firms with less extreme valuations.

Suggested Citation

  • Jeffrey J. Coulton & Naibuka Saune & Stephen L. Taylor & Steven Cahan, 2015. "Overvalued equity, benchmark beating and unexpected accruals," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 55(4), pages 989-1014, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:acctfi:v:55:y:2015:i:4:p:989-1014
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1111/acfi.2015.55.issue-4
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