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Earnings management and the distribution of earnings relative to targets: UK evidence

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  • Pelham Gore
  • Peter Pope
  • Ashni Singh

Abstract

In this paper we provide new evidence on discontinuities in the distribution of reported earnings, using a large sample of UK firms. We examine the discontinuity phenomenon in the context of earnings management. We report that the empirical distribution of earnings before discretionary working capital accruals does not reflect the unusually high frequencies of small surpluses and unusually low frequencies of small deficits relative to targets found in the distribution of actual (reported) earnings, i.e. after discretionary working capital accruals. We find that discretionary working capital accruals have the effect of significantly increasing the frequencies of firms achieving earnings targets both overall and by small margins. Thus, we document an explicit link between working capital accruals-based earnings management and the discontinuities observed in the empirical distribution of earnings relative to targets. We also examine earnings management before and after the issuance of FRS 3 ‘Reporting Financial Performance’ and find evidence that FRS 3 altered earnings management strategies adopted by companies.

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  • Pelham Gore & Peter Pope & Ashni Singh, 2007. "Earnings management and the distribution of earnings relative to targets: UK evidence," Accounting and Business Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 37(2), pages 123-149.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:acctbr:v:37:y:2007:i:2:p:123-149
    DOI: 10.1080/00014788.2007.9730065
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    4. Nikola Petrovic & Stuart Manson & Jerry Coakley, 2009. "Does Volatility Improve UK Earnings Forecasts?," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(9‐10), pages 1148-1179, November.
    5. Yenpao Chen & Chien-Hsun Chen & Yu-Ting Wu, 2019. "An assessment of the relationship between channel stuffing and related party transactions: evidence from China’s listed companies," International Journal of Disclosure and Governance, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 16(2), pages 116-127, July.
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    7. Zalata, Alaa Mansour & Roberts, Clare, 2017. "Managing earnings using classification shifting: UK evidence," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 29(C), pages 52-65.
    8. Nico Lehmann, 2016. "The role of corporate governance in shaping accruals manipulation prior to acquisitions," Accounting and Business Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 46(4), pages 327-364, June.
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    10. Maria-José García-López & Juan-José Durán & Carmen Avilés-Palacios, 2022. "Managing Reputation in MNEs through Intangible Liabilities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-15, March.
    11. Endre Beretka, 2019. "Detecting Earnings Management. An analysis of Credit Institutions’ (Banks) trading in Hungary," Proceedings of the 15th International RAIS Conference, November 6-7, 2019 003EB, Research Association for Interdisciplinary Studies.
    12. Yim, Andrew, 2013. "Mixture and Continuous 'Discontinuity' Hypotheses: An Earnings Management Model with Auditor-Required Adjustment," MPRA Paper 44702, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    13. Tobar Arias, José E. & Mora Valencia, Andrés & Benavides Franco, Julián, 2023. "Earnings management to avoid losses: Evidence in non-listed Colombian companies," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 53(C).
    14. Lucie Courteau & Jennifer L. Kao & Yao Tian, 2015. "Does Accrual Management Impair the Performance of Earnings-Based Valuation Models?," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 42(1-2), pages 101-137, January.
    15. Chardonnens, Patrick & Fiechter, Peter & Wallmeier, Martin, 2022. "The disappearance of the zero-earnings discontinuity: SOX, dotcom boom or gradual decline?," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 49(C).
    16. Daniela Hohenfels & Reiner Quick, 2020. "Non-audit services and audit quality: evidence from Germany," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 14(5), pages 959-1007, October.
    17. Rahman, Sheehan, 2019. "Discretionary tone, annual earnings and market returns: Evidence from UK Interim Management Statements," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    18. C. T. Shehzad & J. De Haan & B. Scholtens, 2013. "The relationship between size, growth and profitability of commercial banks," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 45(13), pages 1751-1765, May.
    19. Ana Paula Lopes, 2018. "Audit Quality and Earnings Management: Evidence from Portugal," Athens Journal of Business & Economics, Athens Institute for Education and Research (ATINER), vol. 4(2), pages 179-192, April.
    20. Haga, Jesper & Huhtamäki, Fredrik & Sundvik, Dennis, 2022. "Employee effort and earnings management," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 53(C).
    21. Nguyet T. M. Nguyen & Abdullah Iqbal & Radha K. Shiwakoti, 2022. "The context of earnings management and its ability to predict future stock returns," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 59(1), pages 123-169, July.
    22. Chau Duong & Gioia Pescetto & Daniel Santamaria, 2014. "How value-glamour investors use financial information: UK evidence of investors' confirmation bias," The European Journal of Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 20(6), pages 524-549, June.
    23. Bilinski, Pawel & Lyssimachou, Danielle, 2018. "Dividend guidance to manage analyst dividend expectations," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 53-68.
    24. Lee, Cheng-Few & Sung, Hao-Chang, 2021. "Product market competition and real activities manipulation: Theory and implications," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 192-205.

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