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Is silence golden? An empirical analysis of firms that stop giving quarterly earnings guidance

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  • Chen, Shuping
  • Matsumoto, Dawn
  • Rajgopal, Shiva

Abstract

We investigate firms that stop providing earnings guidance (“stoppers”) either by publicly announcing their decision (“announcers”) or doing so quietly (“quiet stoppers”). Relative to firms that continue guiding, stoppers have poorer prior performance, more uncertain operating environments, and fewer informed investors. Announcers commit to non-disclosure because they (i) do not expect to report future good news or (ii) have lower incentives to guide due to the presence of long-term investors. The three-day return around the announcement is negative. Stoppers subsequently experience increases in analyst forecast dispersion and decreases in forecast accuracy but no change in return volatility or analyst following.

Suggested Citation

  • Chen, Shuping & Matsumoto, Dawn & Rajgopal, Shiva, 2011. "Is silence golden? An empirical analysis of firms that stop giving quarterly earnings guidance," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 51(1), pages 134-150.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jaecon:v:51:y:2011:i:1:p:134-150
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jacceco.2010.10.006
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Earnings guidance; Disclosure; Determinants; Consequences; Stoppage;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

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

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