Taking as given the discretionary accruals models that exist in the literature, we examine how the selection of peer firms affects the researcher’s ability to detect earnings management. Researchers commonly estimate accruals models in cross section, and define the peer set (the firms used to estimate the cross section) as all firms in the same industry. We challenge this view by examining whet...

Commonly used Jones-type discretionary accrual models applied in quarterly settings do not adequately control for nondiscretionary accruals that naturally occur due to firm growth. We show that the relation between quarterly accruals and backward-looking sales growth (measured over a rolling four-quarter window) and forward-looking firm growth (market-to-book ratio) is non-linear. Failure to co...

We investigate whether the accruals anomaly (Sloan 1996), characterized by U.S. stock prices over-weighting the role of accrual persistence and under-weighting the role of operating cash flow persistence for future earnings, is a local manifestation of a global phenomenon. Hence, we examine whether stock prices in six other major capital markets and Japan) fully reflect the implications of the ...

During the year prior to management buyout (MBOs) announcements, some target firms exhibit abnormally high discretionary expenses in selling, general and administration, abnormally low discretionary accruals, and realize losses from asset sales. Higher discretionary expenses and losses from asset sales are associated with lower pre-MBO abnormal stock returns, especially for firms with higher in...

In this research, role of accruals in elaboration of quality of earning of the companies accepted in Mumbai Stock Exchange has been studied and relationship between quality of earning through accruals and its constituents and abnormal stock return has been studied. The studied sample includes 35 companies in group A of Mumbai Stock Exchange in 2009-2013.Fordata analysisandhypothesistesting mult...

The accrual anomaly is a phenomenon that investors gain future abnormal returns through accruals-based hedge portfolios. This paper first shows that China's institutional investors have a better understanding of the persistence of accounting accruals and they more accurately assess stock prices, and that an accrual-based hedge portfolio yields smaller future abnormal returns for firms with high...

This paper theoretically and empirically investigates the role of CEO career concerns on accruals based and real activities earnings management. We develop a model of earnings management, rooted in career concerns, that alternatively incorporates the features of the accrual accounting performance measurement system and the negative value-destroying effects of real activities earnings management...