The Misrepresentation of Earnings
23 Pages Posted: 9 Jan 2014 Last revised: 12 Aug 2015
Date Written: August 10, 2015
Abstract
We ask nearly 400 CFOs about the definition and drivers of earnings quality, with a special emphasis on the prevalence and detection of earnings misrepresentation. CFOs believe that the hallmarks of earnings quality are sustainability, absence of one-time items, and backing by actual cash flows. Earnings quality is determined in about equal measure by controllable factors like internal controls and corporate governance, and non-controllable factors like industry membership and macroeconomic conditions. On earnings misrepresentation, CFOs believe that in any given period a remarkable 20% of firms intentionally distort earnings, even though they are adhering to generally accepted accounting principles. The economic magnitude of the misrepresentation is large, averaging about 10% of reported earnings. While most misrepresentation involves earnings overstatement, interestingly, one third of the firms that are misrepresenting performance are low-balling their earnings or reversing a prior intentional overstatement. Finally, CFOs provide a list of red flags that can be used to detect earnings misrepresentation.
Related paper: "Earnings Quality: Evidence from the Field" http://ssrn.com/abstract=2103384
Teaching/Presentation Slides: "A Guide to Earnings Quality" http://ssrn.com/abstract=2347428
Keywords: Earnings management, Earnings misrepresentation, Smooth earnings, Accruals, GAAP, Low-balling, Cookie jar reserves, Sustainable earnings, predictable earnings, real earnings management
JEL Classification: M40, M41, M42, M48, G32, G38
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation