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Market uncertainty and disclosure of internal control deficiencies under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act

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  • Kim, Yongtae
  • Park, Myung Seok

Abstract

This study examines cross-sectional differences in stock market reactions to the disclosure of internal control deficiencies under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. We hypothesize that the market punishment for internal control problems will be less severe for internal control disclosure that helps reduce market uncertainty around the disclosure. We also predict that such a relation is dependent on the types of disclosure and the market's prior knowledge of the credibility of firms' financial reporting. Consistent with our hypothesis, we find that when firms disclose their internal control deficiencies, their abnormal stock returns are negatively associated with changes in market uncertainty (e.g., changes in the standard deviations of daily stock returns) around the disclosure. We also find that the impact of the uncertainty reduction is greater for voluntary disclosures of non-material weakness, especially those made in the context of previous suspicious events. The negative impact of changes in market uncertainty on the abnormal stock returns remains intact even after controlling for possible simultaneity. An analysis using financial analysts' earnings forecasts dispersion as an alternative proxy for uncertainty confirms the results.

Suggested Citation

  • Kim, Yongtae & Park, Myung Seok, 2009. "Market uncertainty and disclosure of internal control deficiencies under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act," Journal of Accounting and Public Policy, Elsevier, vol. 28(5), pages 419-445, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jappol:v:28:y:2009:i:5:p:419-445
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    Cited by:

    1. Benaroch, Michel & Chernobai, Anna & Goldstein, James, 2012. "An internal control perspective on the market value consequences of IT operational risk events," International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, Elsevier, vol. 13(4), pages 357-381.
    2. Jiang, Haiyan & Chen, Jun, 2019. "Short selling and financial reporting quality: Evidence from Chinese AH shares," Journal of Contemporary Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 15(1), pages 118-130.
    3. Westfall, Tiffany J. & Myring, Mark, 2022. "Are voluntary internal control weakness disclosures in initial public offerings associated with managerial ability and subsequent financial reporting quality?," Advances in accounting, Elsevier, vol. 59(C).
    4. Oliver Henk, 2020. "Internal control through the lens of institutional work: a systematic literature review," Journal of Management Control: Zeitschrift für Planung und Unternehmenssteuerung, Springer, vol. 31(3), pages 239-273, September.
    5. Mounia Boulhaga & Abdelfettah Bouri & Ahmed A. Elamer & Bassam A. Ibrahim, 2023. "Environmental, social and governance ratings and firm performance: The moderating role of internal control quality," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(1), pages 134-145, January.
    6. Khedmati, Mehdi & Navissi, Farshid & Shams, Syed & Vinkler, Daniel, 2015. "News announcement effects of compliance with section 404 of SOX: Evidence from non-accelerated filers," Journal of Contemporary Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 11(3), pages 231-244.
    7. Li, Yingqi & Yu, Junli & Zhang, Zhou & Zheng, Steven Xiaofan, 2016. "The effect of internal control weakness on firm valuation: Evidence from SOX Section 404 disclosures," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 17(C), pages 17-24.
    8. Dina El-Mahdy & Myung Park, 2014. "Internal control quality and information asymmetry in the secondary loan market," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 43(4), pages 683-720, November.
    9. R. Mithu Dey & Mary W. Sullivan, 2012. "Was Dodd-Frank justified in granting internal control audit exemption to small firms?," Managerial Auditing Journal, Emerald Group Publishing, vol. 27(7), pages 666-692, July.
    10. Elsayed, Mohamed & Elshandidy, Tamer, 2021. "Internal control effectiveness, textual risk disclosure, and their usefulness: U.S. evidence," Advances in accounting, Elsevier, vol. 53(C).
    11. Mukesh Garg, 2017. "Value relevance of voluntary internal control certification: An information asymmetry perspective," Australian Journal of Management, Australian School of Business, vol. 42(4), pages 527-559, November.
    12. Vafeas, Nikos & Vlittis, Adamos, 2015. "Board influence on the selection of external accounting executives," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 47(1), pages 46-65.
    13. Derrick W. H. Fung & David Jou & Ai Ju Shao & Jason J. H. Yeh, 2021. "The informativeness of embedded value reporting to stock price," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 61(4), pages 5341-5376, December.
    14. Jamshid Karimov & Faruk Balli & Hatice Ozer‐Balli & Anne de Bruin, 2021. "Firm‐level political risk and Shari’ah compliance: equity capital cost and payouts policy," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 61(3), pages 4639-4667, September.
    15. Li, Wanyun, 2022. "Disclosure of internal control material weaknesses and optimism in analyst earnings forecasts," International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, Elsevier, vol. 44(C).
    16. Fang-Nan Liao & Xiao-Li Ji & Zhi-Ping Wang, 2019. "Firms’ Sustainability: Does Economic Policy Uncertainty Affect Internal Control?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-26, February.
    17. Kwangwuk Oh & Wooseok Choi & Seok Woo Jeong & Jinhan Pae, 2014. "The effect of different levels of internal control over financial reporting regulation on the quality of accounting information: evidence from Korea," Asia-Pacific Journal of Accounting & Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 21(4), pages 412-442, December.
    18. Tsai, Yu-Cheng & Huang, Hua-Wei, 2021. "Internal control material weakness opinions and the market's reaction to securities fraud litigation announcements," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 41(C).

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