Corporate Financial Reporting Driven by Earnings, Sacrificing Economic Value for Consistency
The article explores how financial executives make decisions about reporting company performance. They found that most companies prioritize earnings, like EPS, over cash flows for investors. Managers often prioritize meeting earnings targets over long-term value, even if it means sacrificing profits. They believe that missing earnings targets or having unpredictable earnings can hurt stock prices. Managers also disclose information to reduce stock risk but are cautious about setting a precedent for future disclosures. Overall, the study shows that managers focus on stock price motivations when managing earnings and disclosing information.