This paper investigates whether the desire to achieve higher equity valuations induces conglomerates to manipulate their segment earnings. I extend the Stein (1989) model to a multi-segment setting and show that conglomerates have incentives to transfer profits from segments operating in...

Earnings announcements and 10-K filings are two important channels through which companies release financial information to the public. Earnings announcements, particularly for large firms, are often accompanied by intensive media coverage. In contrast, 10-K filings are usually of much lower...