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The relationship between the smoothing of reported income and risk-adjusted returns

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  • Stuart Michelson

  • James Jordan-Wagner

  • Charles Wootton

Abstract

This paper uses risk-adjusted returns for the firms in the S&P 500 to test whether the stock market response to accounting performance measures is related to the smoothness of companies’ reported earnings. Three income models, increasing in their measure of smoothness, test the hypotheses using cumulative average abnormal returns. The results indicate that companies that report smooth income have significantly higher cumulative average abnormal returns than firms that do not. When size is considered, market returns are higher for small companies than for large companies. There is also a significant relationship between the type of industry and income smoothing. Copyright Springer 2000

Suggested Citation

  • Stuart Michelson & James Jordan-Wagner & Charles Wootton, 2000. "The relationship between the smoothing of reported income and risk-adjusted returns," Journal of Economics and Finance, Springer;Academy of Economics and Finance, vol. 24(2), pages 141-159, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jecfin:v:24:y:2000:i:2:p:141-159
    DOI: 10.1007/BF02752709
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Patell, Jm, 1976. "Corporate Forecasts Of Earnings Per Share And Stock-Price Behavior - Empirical Tests," Journal of Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 14(2), pages 246-276.
    2. Patricia M. Dechow & Richard G. Sloan & Amy P. Sweeney, 1996. "Causes and Consequences of Earnings Manipulation: An Analysis of Firms Subject to Enforcement Actions by the SEC," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 13(1), pages 1-36, March.
    3. Zmijewski, Mark E. & Hagerman, Robert L., 1981. "An income strategy approach to the positive theory of accounting standard setting/choice," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 3(2), pages 129-149, August.
    4. Schipper, Katherine & Smith, Abbie, 1983. "Effects of recontracting on shareholder wealth : The case of voluntary spin-offs," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 12(4), pages 437-467, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Leif Beisland & Dennis Frestad, 2013. "How fair-value accounting can influence firm hedging," Review of Derivatives Research, Springer, vol. 16(2), pages 193-217, July.
    2. François Aubert, 2005. "L'Impact Des Changements De Méthodes Comptables Sur Les Rentabilites Boursieres," Post-Print halshs-00581111, HAL.
    3. Peterson K. Ozili & Erick Rading Outa, 2018. "Bank income smoothing in South Africa: role of ownership, IFRS and economic fluctuation," International Journal of Emerging Markets, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 13(5), pages 1372-1394, November.
    4. Beisland, Leif Atle & Mersland, Roy, 2014. "Earnings Quality in Nonprofit Versus For-Profit Organizations: Evidence From the Microfinance Industry," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 43(4), pages 652-671.
    5. Alina Beattrice Vladu & Barcelona Spain, 2013. "Smoothing Behavior Of Firms In Times Of Crisis: Empirical Evidence From The Spanish Economic Environment," Annales Universitatis Apulensis Series Oeconomica, Faculty of Sciences, "1 Decembrie 1918" University, Alba Iulia, vol. 2(15), pages 1-13.
    6. Pei-I Chou & Chia-Hao Lee, 2018. "The asymmetric relation between earnings management behaviors: evidence from executive compensation incentives," Journal of Economics and Finance, Springer;Academy of Economics and Finance, vol. 42(4), pages 765-778, October.
    7. Mismiwati Mismiwati & Haryadi Haryadi & Enggar Diah Puspa Arum & Tona Auora Lubis, 2022. "The role of profit management in mediation of financial performance and transparency towards profit distribution management in sharia commercial banks," International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147-4478), Center for the Strategic Studies in Business and Finance, vol. 11(1), pages 138-151, January.
    8. Silhan, Peter A., 2014. "Income smoothing from a Census X-12 perspective," Advances in accounting, Elsevier, vol. 30(1), pages 106-115.
    9. Ben‐Hsien Bao & Da‐Hsien Bao, 2004. "Income Smoothing, Earnings Quality and Firm Valuation," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(9‐10), pages 1525-1557, November.
    10. Mengqian Wu & Indra Abeysekera, 2023. "Financial reporting quality of ESG firms listed in China," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 18(6), pages 1-26, June.
    11. Nico Alexander, 2019. "The Effect of Ownership Structure, Cash Holding and Tax Avoidance on Income Smoothing," GATR Journals jfbr166, Global Academy of Training and Research (GATR) Enterprise.
    12. Leif Atle Beisland & Roy Mersland, 2013. "Earnings Quality in the Microfinance Industry," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: Jean-Pierre Gueyie & Ronny Manos & Jacob Yaron (ed.), Microfinance in Developing Countries, chapter 5, pages 83-106, Palgrave Macmillan.
    13. Arnedo, Laura & Lizarraga, Fermin & Sanchez, Santiago, 2007. "Does public/private status affect the level of earnings management in code-law contexts outside the United States? A study based on the Spanish case," The International Journal of Accounting, Elsevier, vol. 42(3), pages 305-328.
    14. Heflin, Frank & Hsu, Charles, 2008. "The impact of the SEC's regulation of non-GAAP disclosures," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 46(2-3), pages 349-365, December.
    15. Jacek Welc, 2014. "Impact of Earnings Smoothness on Stock Prices, Stock Returns and Future Earnings Changes - the Polish Experience," European Financial and Accounting Journal, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2014(3), pages 67-94.
    16. Belén Gill de Albornoz Noguer & Simona Rusanescu, 2017. "Foreign ownership and financial reporting quality in private subsidiaries," Working Papers. Serie EC 2017-02, Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Económicas, S.A. (Ivie).

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