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Insider Trading and Earnings Management

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  • Julia Sawicki
  • Keshab Shrestha

Abstract

This paper analyzes the relationship between earnings management and insider trading, specifically investigating whether discretionary accruals are related to insider trading and valuation. We find strong evidence of insiders managing earnings downward when buying and managing earnings upward when selling. On the marginal basis, value (high book‐to‐market value) firms manage their earnings upward compared to growth (low book‐to‐market value) firms, consistent with a signaling hypothesis. However, the opposite is true on the average basis, consistent with an opportunistic hypothesis.

Suggested Citation

  • Julia Sawicki & Keshab Shrestha, 2008. "Insider Trading and Earnings Management," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 35(3‐4), pages 331-346, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jbfnac:v:35:y:2008:i:3-4:p:331-346
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-5957.2008.02075.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. David Burgstahler & Michael Eames, 2006. "Management of Earnings and Analysts' Forecasts to Achieve Zero and Small Positive Earnings Surprises," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(5-6), pages 633-652.
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    19. Carol A. Marquardt & Christine I. Wiedman, 2004. "The Effect of Earnings Management on the Value Relevance of Accounting Information," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(3‐4), pages 297-332, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Bok Baik & Kwanghee Cho & Wooseok Choi & Jun-Koo Kang, 2015. "The Role of Institutional Environments in Cross-Border Mergers: A Perspective from Bidders’ Earnings Management Behavior," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 55(5), pages 615-646, October.
    2. Esther B. Brio & Ilidio Lopes-e-Silva & Javier Perote, 2016. "Effects of opportunistic behaviors on security markets: an experimental approach to insider trading and earnings management," Economia Politica: Journal of Analytical and Institutional Economics, Springer;Fondazione Edison, vol. 33(3), pages 379-402, December.
    3. Trinh, Quoc Dat & Haddad, Christian & Tran, Kim Thuan, 2022. "Financial reporting quality and dividend policy: New evidence from an international level," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    4. Kraft, Anastasia & Lee, Bong Soo & Lopatta, Kerstin, 2014. "Management earnings forecasts, insider trading, and information asymmetry," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 26(C), pages 96-123.
    5. Chiu, Yung-Chin & Liang, Woan-lih, 2015. "Do firms manipulate earnings before accelerated share repurchases?," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 37(C), pages 86-95.
    6. Firth, Michael & Leung, T.Y. & Rui, Oliver M., 2010. "Double signals or single signal? An investigation of insider trading around share repurchases," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 20(4), pages 376-388, October.
    7. Chowdhury, Abu & Mollah, Sabur & Al Farooque, Omar, 2018. "Insider-trading, discretionary accruals and information asymmetry," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 50(4), pages 341-363.
    8. Akram Khalilov & Beatriz Garcia Osma, 2020. "Accounting conservatism and the profitability of corporate insiders," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 47(3-4), pages 333-364, March.
    9. Pelucio-Grecco, Marta Cristina & Geron, Cecília Moraes Santostaso & Grecco, Gerson Begas & Lima, João Paulo Cavalcante, 2014. "The effect of IFRS on earnings management in Brazilian non-financial public companies," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 21(C), pages 42-66.
    10. Hsieh, Jim & Ng, Lilian & Wang, Qinghai, 2023. "How informative are insider trades and analyst recommendations?," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    11. Tang, Hui-wen & Chen, Anlin & Chang, Chong-Chuo, 2013. "Insider trading, accrual abuse, and corporate governance in emerging markets — Evidence from Taiwan," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 24(C), pages 132-155.
    12. Cheng, Minying & Liu, Jun & Zhang, Longwen, 2020. "Tunneling through allies: Affiliated shareholders, insider trading, and monitoring failure," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 323-345.
    13. Xiao, Gang, 2015. "Trading and earnings management: Evidence from China's non-tradable share reform," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 31(C), pages 67-90.
    14. Qiu, Ying & He, Hua & Xiao, Gang, 2018. "The information content of insider trading: Evidence from China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 26(C), pages 126-131.
    15. Luke M. Bennett & Wei Hu, 2023. "Filtration enlargement‐based time series forecast in view of insider trading," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(1), pages 112-140, February.
    16. Chen, Yanyan & Tian, Gary Gang & Yao, Daifei Troy, 2019. "Does regulating executive compensation impact insider trading?," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 1-20.
    17. Weitzel, Utz & Kling, Gerhard, 2012. "Sold below value? Why some targets accept very low and even negative takeover premiums," MPRA Paper 42832, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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