Disclosures of Insider Purchases and the Valuation Implications of Past Earnings Signals

49 Pages Posted: 5 Sep 2010 Last revised: 15 Jan 2012

See all articles by David Veenman

David Veenman

University of Amsterdam - Amsterdam Business School (ABS)

Date Written: January 15, 2012

Abstract

This study examines whether disclosures of insider equity purchases on SEC Form 4 resolve uncertainty regarding the valuation implications of reported earnings. Defining information uncertainty as ambiguity about firm value arising from low earnings precision, I predict and find that insider purchase filings trigger more positive market reactions in firms with greater information uncertainty (lower quality accruals). After controlling for future earnings changes, I further find that market reactions to purchase filings are predictably associated with prior earnings changes. The strength of this effect is increasing in the magnitude of insider purchases as well as the level of information uncertainty. Overall, these findings suggest that, in addition to signaling future earnings information, Form 4 purchase filings help investors learn about the valuation implications of past earnings signals.

Keywords: insider trading, uncertainty, accruals quality, persistence

JEL Classification: D82, G14, M41

Suggested Citation

Veenman, David, Disclosures of Insider Purchases and the Valuation Implications of Past Earnings Signals (January 15, 2012). Accounting Review, Vol. 87, No. 1, pp. 313-342, 2012, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1671683

David Veenman (Contact Author)

University of Amsterdam - Amsterdam Business School (ABS) ( email )

Roetersstraat 18
Amsterdam, 1018WB
Netherlands

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