This paper sheds light on the economics of Internet firms by extracting information on major value-drivers from their stock prices. Contrary to conventional Wall Street wisdom that there is little or no method in the pricing of Net stocks, I find that basic accounting data are highly...

We examine in this study the relevance to investors of information on the capitalization of software development costs, as promulgated in 1985 by the Financial Accounting Standards Board in its Statement No. 86 (SFAS 86). We find that software capitalization is value-relevant to investors: The...

We investigate the ability of a tax-based fundamental - the ratio of tax-to-book income - to predict earnings growth and stock returns and to explain the earnings-price ratio. This tax fundamental reflects both temporary and permanent book-tax differences as well as tax accruals, such as changes...

In this paper, we examine the relative information content of two cash earnings measures (earnings with amortization of intangibles added back and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization), one traditional accrual accounting earnings measure (earnings before extraordinary...

We examine whether stock prices fully reflect the value of firms? intangible assets, focusing on research and development (Ramp;D). Since intangible assets are not reported on financial statements under current U.S. accounting standards and Ramp;D spending is expensed, the valuation problem may...

We show that the intangible asset, firm reputation, has value-relevance as measured by its ability to explain part of the difference between BV and MV. Firm reputation is measured using the Fortune survey of quot;America's most admired companies.quot; We allow the Fortune rankings to serve as a...

This paper investigates the effect of regulation that mandates open access to information on managers' disclosure choices and investors' reactions to disclosures. The recently passed Regulation FD (Reg FD) requires firms to make material disclosures broadly available. Using a sample of firms...

Recent advances in information technology allow firms to provide broader access to their disclosures. We examine the determinants and effects of the decision to provide unlimited real-time access to conference calls (i.e., quot;openquot;conference calls). Our evidence suggests that the decision...