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Voluntary and mandatory disclosures: Do managers view them as substitutes?

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  • Noh, Suzie
  • So, Eric C.
  • Weber, Joseph P.

Abstract

We examine the relation between firms' voluntary guidance and mandatory 8K filings. We find a negative relation between guidance and 8Ks, which strengthens following the 2004 expansion of mandatory 8K requirements, consistent with firms using the disclosures as substitutes. Increases in 8Ks coincide with declines in firms’ profits, but this negative relation weakens after the 2004 regulation, consistent with firms broadening the scope of information conveyed through 8Ks. Together, our findings suggest firms became more reliant on 8Ks to convey general types of information after the 2004 regulation, rather than primarily negative news, which reduces their incentives to issue guidance.

Suggested Citation

  • Noh, Suzie & So, Eric C. & Weber, Joseph P., 2019. "Voluntary and mandatory disclosures: Do managers view them as substitutes?," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 68(1).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jaecon:v:68:y:2019:i:1:s0165410119300382
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jacceco.2019.101243
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Jeremy Bertomeu & Igor Vaysman & Wenjie Xue, 2021. "Voluntary versus mandatory disclosure," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 26(2), pages 658-692, June.
    2. Claudia Arena & Saverio Bozzolan & Claudia Imperatore, 2024. "Enhancing environmental reporting: A study on the role of narrative disclosure, firm‐ and country‐level incentives," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(4), pages 3414-3428, July.
    3. Paul Hribar & Richard Mergenthaler & Aaron Roeschley & Spencer Young & Chris X. Zhao, 2022. "Do Managers Issue More Voluntary Disclosure When GAAP Limits Their Reporting Discretion in Financial Statements?," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 60(1), pages 299-351, March.
    4. Abramova, Inna & Core, John & Sutherland, Andrew, 2019. "Institutional Investor Attention and Firm Disclosure," MPRA Paper 93665, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    5. Kevin C. Smith & Eric C. So, 2022. "Measuring Risk Information," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 60(2), pages 375-426, May.
    6. Li, Xiaoyu & Zou, Lin, 2024. "Does mandating narrative disclosure of innovation help unveil the curtain of R&D expenditure? Evidence from regulation change in China," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    7. Huilin Zhang & Xiaoran Ni & Qi Jin, 2023. "Litigating crashes? Insights from security class actions," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 63(3), pages 2935-2963, September.
    8. Seo, Hojun, 2021. "Peer effects in corporate disclosure decisions," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 71(1).
    9. Amiraslani, Hami & Donovan, John & Phillips, Matthew A. & Wittenberg-Moerman, Regina, 2023. "Contracting in the Dark: The rise of public-side lenders in the syndicated loan market," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 76(1).
    10. Hyunkwon Cho & Sunhwa Choi & Robert Kim, 2023. "Less timely earnings announcements and voluntary disclosure," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 50(3-4), pages 524-564, March.
    11. Huang, Huichi & Weinbaum, David & Yehuda, Nir, 2023. "Financial reporting quality and investment efficiency: The role of strategic alliances," Journal of Contemporary Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 19(3).
    12. Hao, Jinji, 2024. "Disclosure regulation, cost of capital, and firm values," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 77(1).
    13. Hope, Ole-Kristian & Huang, Zhongwei & Moldovan, Rucsandra, 2021. "Wall Street analysts as investor relations officers," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    14. Bayar, Onur & Das, Sougata & Kesici, Emre, 2021. "Heterogeneity in the information content of 8-K disclosures about private targets: Acquirer size and target significance," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 48(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Accounting disclosure; Regulation; Forecasting; Capital markets;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • M40 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting - - - General
    • M41 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting - - - Accounting

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