IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/reaccs/v19y2014i2d10.1007_s11142-013-9250-y.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

How does earnings management influence investor’s perceptions of firm value? Survey evidence from financial analysts

Author

Listed:
  • Abe Jong

    (Erasmus University
    University of Groningen)

  • Gerard Mertens

    (Open Universiteit Nederland)

  • Marieke Poel

    (Erasmus University)

  • Ronald Dijk

    (APG Asset Management)

Abstract

Survey evidence shows CFOs to believe that earnings management can enhance investor valuation of their firms. This evidence raises the question of correspondence between the beliefs of CFOs and investors. Surveying financial analysts to gain insight into how earnings management influences investor perception of firm value, we find analysts’ and CFOs’ beliefs to be generally consistent. We find that analysts perceive meeting earnings benchmarks and smoothing earnings to enhance investor perception of firm value and all earnings management actions to reach a benchmark, save share repurchases, to be value destroying. CFOs, however, are reluctant to repurchase shares, preferring to use techniques viewed by analysts as value destroying (e.g., reductions in discretionary spending). Analysts’ inability to unravel such techniques perhaps explains CFOs’ preferences.

Suggested Citation

  • Abe Jong & Gerard Mertens & Marieke Poel & Ronald Dijk, 2014. "How does earnings management influence investor’s perceptions of firm value? Survey evidence from financial analysts," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 19(2), pages 606-627, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:reaccs:v:19:y:2014:i:2:d:10.1007_s11142-013-9250-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s11142-013-9250-y
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11142-013-9250-y
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s11142-013-9250-y?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Womack, Kent L, 1996. "Do Brokerage Analysts' Recommendations Have Investment Value?," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 51(1), pages 137-167, March.
    2. Sunil Dutta & Brett Trueman, 2002. "The Interpretation of Information and Corporate Disclosure Strategies," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 7(1), pages 75-96, March.
    3. Vasiliki Athanasakou & Norman C. Strong & Martin Walker, 2011. "The Market Reward for Achieving Analyst Earnings Expectations: Does Managing Expectations or Earnings Matter?," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(1-2), pages 58-94, January.
    4. Fudenberg, Drew & Tirole, Jean, 1995. "A Theory of Income and Dividend Smoothing Based on Incumbency Rents," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 103(1), pages 75-93, February.
    5. Beyer, Anne, 2008. "Financial analysts' forecast revisions and managers' reporting behavior," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 46(2-3), pages 334-348, December.
    6. Barth, ME & Elliott, JA & Finn, MW, 1999. "Market rewards associated with patterns of increasing earnings," Journal of Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 37(2), pages 387-413.
    7. Dechow, Patricia & Ge, Weili & Schrand, Catherine, 2010. "Understanding earnings quality: A review of the proxies, their determinants and their consequences," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 50(2-3), pages 344-401, December.
    8. Daniel Cohen & Raj Mashruwala & Tzachi Zach, 2010. "The use of advertising activities to meet earnings benchmarks: evidence from monthly data," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 15(4), pages 808-832, December.
    9. Bowen, Robert M. & DuCharme, Larry & Shores, D., 1995. "Stakeholders' implicit claims and accounting method choice," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 20(3), pages 255-295, December.
    10. Michael Gibbins & Susan A. McCracken & Steve E. Salterio, 2007. "The Chief Financial Officer's Perspective on Auditor†Client Negotiations," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 24(2), pages 387-422, June.
    11. Cristi A. Gleason & Lillian F. Mills, 2008. "Evidence of differing market responses to beating analysts’ targets through tax expense decreases," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 13(2), pages 295-318, September.
    12. Dechow, Patricia M. & Sloan, Richard G., 1991. "Executive incentives and the horizon problem : An empirical investigation," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 14(1), pages 51-89, March.
    13. Jonathan M. Karpoff & D. Scott Lee & Gerald S. Martin, 2014. "The Consequences to Managers for Financial Misrepresentation," Springer Books, in: Roberto Pietra & Stuart McLeay & Joshua Ronen (ed.), Accounting and Regulation, edition 127, chapter 0, pages 339-375, Springer.
    14. Hribar, Paul & Jenkins, Nicole Thorne & Johnson, W. Bruce, 2006. "Stock repurchases as an earnings management device," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 41(1-2), pages 3-27, April.
    15. Jeffery Abarbanell & Reuven Lehavy, 2003. "Can Stock Recommendations Predict Earnings Management and Analysts’ Earnings Forecast Errors?," Journal of Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 41(1), pages 1-31, March.
    16. Roychowdhury, Sugata, 2006. "Earnings management through real activities manipulation," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 42(3), pages 335-370, December.
    17. Stanley B. Block, 1999. "A Study of Financial Analysts: Practice and Theory," Financial Analysts Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 55(4), pages 86-95, July.
    18. David C. Burgstahler & Michael J. Eames, 2003. "Earnings Management to Avoid Losses and Earnings Decreases: Are Analysts Fooled?," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 20(2), pages 253-294, June.
    19. Brown, Lawrence D & Rozeff, Michael S, 1978. "The Superiority of Analyst Forecasts as Measures of Expectations: Evidence from Earnings," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 33(1), pages 1-16, March.
    20. Graham, John R. & Harvey, Campbell R. & Rajgopal, Shiva, 2005. "The economic implications of corporate financial reporting," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 40(1-3), pages 3-73, December.
    21. Paul E. Fischer & Phillip C. Stocken, 2004. "Effect of Investor Speculation on Earnings Management," Journal of Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 42(5), pages 843-870, December.
    22. Kim, Kyungho & Schroeder, Douglas A., 1990. "Analysts' use of managerial bonus incentives in forecasting earnings," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 13(1), pages 4-23, May.
    23. Bartov, Eli & Givoly, Dan & Hayn, Carla, 2002. "The rewards to meeting or beating earnings expectations," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 33(2), pages 173-204, June.
    24. Karpoff, Jonathan M. & Lee, D. Scott & Martin, Gerald S., 2008. "The Cost to Firms of Cooking the Books," Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 43(3), pages 581-611, September.
    25. Farrell, Kathleen A. & Whidbee, David A., 2003. "Impact of firm performance expectations on CEO turnover and replacement decisions," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 36(1-3), pages 165-196, December.
    26. Ron Kasznik & Maureen F. McNichols, 2002. "Does Meeting Earnings Expectations Matter? Evidence from Analyst Forecast Revisions and Share Prices," Journal of Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 40(3), pages 727-759, June.
    27. Burgstahler, David & Dichev, Ilia, 1997. "Earnings management to avoid earnings decreases and losses," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 24(1), pages 99-126, December.
    28. Douglas J. Skinner & Richard G. Sloan, 2002. "Earnings Surprises, Growth Expectations, and Stock Returns or Don't Let an Earnings Torpedo Sink Your Portfolio," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 7(2), pages 289-312, June.
    29. SANJEEV BHOJRAJ & PAUL HRIBAR & MARC PICCONI & JOHN McINNIS, 2009. "Making Sense of Cents: An Examination of Firms That Marginally Miss or Beat Analyst Forecasts," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 64(5), pages 2361-2388, October.
    30. Coles, Jeffrey L. & Hertzel, Michael & Kalpathy, Swaminathan, 2006. "Earnings management around employee stock option reissues," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 41(1-2), pages 173-200, April.
    31. DeFond, Mark L. & Park, Chul W., 1999. "The effect of competition on CEO turnover1," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 27(1), pages 35-56, February.
    32. Healy, Paul M., 1985. "The effect of bonus schemes on accounting decisions," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 7(1-3), pages 85-107, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Runmei Luo & Yong Ye & Jingxuan Li, 2025. "Shining moments: strategic timing of online earnings communication conference," Eurasian Business Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 15(2), pages 593-630, June.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Dechow, Patricia & Ge, Weili & Schrand, Catherine, 2010. "Understanding earnings quality: A review of the proxies, their determinants and their consequences," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 50(2-3), pages 344-401, December.
    2. Chang, Chu-Hsuan & Lin, Hsiou-Wei William, 2018. "Does there prevail momentum in earnings management for seasoned equity offering firms?," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 111-129.
    3. Christopher Armstrong & Jacky Chau & Christopher D. Ittner & Jason J. Xiao, 2025. "Earnings per share targets and CEO incentives," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 30(1), pages 156-201, March.
    4. John L. Abernathy & Brooke Beyer & Eric T. Rapley, 2014. "Earnings Management Constraints and Classification Shifting," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 41(5-6), pages 600-626, June.
    5. Su-Ping Liu & Juan Manuel García Lara, 2013. "Market Rewards to Patterns of Increasing Earnings: Do Cash Flow Patterns, Accruals Manipulation and Real Activities Manipulation Matter?," Working Papers 1303, Departament Empresa, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, revised May 2013.
    6. Beardsley, Erik L. & Robinson, John R. & Wong, Paul A., 2021. "What's my target? Individual analyst forecasts and last-chance earnings management," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 72(1).
    7. Tami Dinh & Helen Kang & Wolfgang Schultze, 2016. "Capitalizing Research & Development: Signaling or Earnings Management?," European Accounting Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 25(2), pages 373-401, June.
    8. Jian Cao & Indrarini Laksmana, 2010. "The effect of capital market pressures on the association between R&D spending and CEO option compensation," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 34(2), pages 273-300, February.
    9. Joseph Legoria & Kevin D. Melendrez & J. Kenneth Reynolds, 2013. "Qualitative audit materiality and earnings management," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 18(2), pages 414-442, June.
    10. Craig J. Chapman & Thomas J. Steenburgh, 2011. "An Investigation of Earnings Management Through Marketing Actions," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 57(1), pages 72-92, January.
    11. Griffin, Paul A. & Hong, Hyun A. & Liu, Yun & Ryou, Ji Woo, 2021. "The dark side of CEO social capital: Evidence from real earnings management and future operating performance," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    12. Heng An & Yul W. Lee & Ting Zhang, 2014. "Do corporations manage earnings to meet/exceed analyst forecasts? Evidence from pension plan assumption changes," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 19(2), pages 698-735, June.
    13. Wenxia Ge & Jeong-Bon Kim, 2014. "Boards, takeover protection, and real earnings management," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 43(4), pages 651-682, November.
    14. Neururer, Thaddeus, 2022. "Meet-or-beat streak heterogeneity and equity prices," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 455-470.
    15. Martin Nienhaus, 2022. "Executive equity incentives and opportunistic manager behavior: new evidence from a quasi-natural experiment," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 27(4), pages 1276-1318, December.
    16. Bird, Andrew & Karolyi, Stephen A. & Ruchti, Thomas G., 2019. "Understanding the “numbers game”," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 68(2).
    17. Habib, Ahsan & Hossain, Mahmud, 2008. "Do managers manage earnings to ‘just meet or beat’ analyst forecasts?," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 17(2), pages 79-91.
    18. DeFond, Mark L., 2010. "Earnings quality research: Advances, challenges and future research," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 50(2-3), pages 402-409, December.
    19. Halaoua, Sameh & Hamdi, Badreddine & Mejri, Tarek, 2017. "Earnings management to exceed thresholds in continental and Anglo-Saxon accounting models: The British and French cases," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 39(PA), pages 513-529.
    20. Muhammad Kaleem Khan & Yixuan Qin & Chengsi Zhang, 2022. "Financial structure and earnings manipulation activities in China," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 45(8), pages 2593-2621, August.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    JEL classification:

    • M41 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting - - - Accounting

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:reaccs:v:19:y:2014:i:2:d:10.1007_s11142-013-9250-y. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.