We explore whether the association between accruals and future returns documented by Sloan (1996) is due to fixation by naive investors on the total amount of reported earnings without regard for the relative magnitude of the accrual and cash flow components. Contrary to the predictions of the...

We examine the agency-theory-based economic determinants of the firm-specific CEO compensation-performance sensitivity by using CEO cash compensation (salary plus bonus) as the proxy for CEO compensation and annual accounting earnings as the measure of firm performance. From agency theory, the...

Much of the existing empirical evidence on the use of stock option compensation conflicts with theoretical predictions. This has led some to conclude that the theories are incomplete or that stock option compensation policies are not optimal, on average. However, most studies use data from the...

This study tests whether firms in the electric utility industry alter their compensation policies in response to the recent and dramatic changes that the 1992 Energy Policy Act imposes on their operating and regulatory environment. The 1992 Act intensifies competition in the utility industry by...

This paper examines the relation between business group affiliation and the cost of debt capital. The co-insurance effect associated with business groups can reduce the cost of debt, while expropriation by controlling shareholders can raise the cost of debt. We find that firms affiliated with...

This study re-interprets the properties of the residual income model by highlighting the shareholders' abandonment (liquidation or adaptation) option. We estimate the value of this real option as an explicit component of abnormal earnings in the residual income model and test the improvement in...

Little is known about the economic environments and determinants of the compensation arrangements for outside board members. As delegated monitors of corporate management, board members act as shareholders' agents. Thus, a potential for misaligned interests exists, requiring in turn incentive...

We theorize that accounting systems affect analysts' forecast accuracy through changes in earnings variability. We argue that the matching and historical cost principles reduce earnings variability, and hence, reduce analysts' earnings forecast errors. We also argue that restricting the choice...

Auditors' incentives to be conservative are likely to vary both cross-sectionally and over time based on their legal liability exposure. We predict that Big Eight (Six/Five) auditors are likely to be more conservative than non-Big Eight Auditors. We show that the earnings reported by Big Eight...

An examination of analysts' accuracy in predicting annual earnings for firms reporting losses and firms reporting profits finds that analysts are ten times more accurate in predicting the earnings of profit firms. They have also improved their predictive ability for profit firms since the...