Earnings Manipulation Benchmark for Nonfinancial Listed Companies in Vietnamese Stock Market

Abstract

The paper examines earnings management detection using the Beneish M-score benchmark model on a sample of 468 non-financial Vietnamese companies listed on the Hochiminh Stock Exchange (HOSE) and Hanoi Stock Exchange (HNX) during 2013-2014. The results show that 40 % of non-financial Vietnamese-listed companies were involved in earnings management, and the sampled observations do fit the Beneish M-score model. This study suggests that the M-score model is a useful technique to use to detect the earnings manipulation behaviors of companies in Vietnam. The M-score model is also a reliable tool for investors to make when making decisions and verifying the reliability of accounting information found in financial reports.

Keywords: Earnings Management, Detecting, M-Score Model, Non-Financial Vietnamese Listed Companies

JEL Classification: M41, G32