The Differential Value Relevance of S&P's Core Earnings Versus GAAP Earnings: The Role of Stock Option Expense

In 2002, Standard & Poor's (S&P) introduced Core Earnings as a proprietary, uniform earnings metric, with the goal of improving financial reporting. The distinguishing feature of Core Earnings is its consistent treatment of seven adjustments to GAAP earnings for which there is no consensus adjustment by managers and analysts. We use stock price and return data to assess whether investors perceive Core Earnings to be more value relevant than GAAP earnings. The implementation of FASB 123R changed the calculation of GAAP and Core Earnings. This change allows us to assess the role of stock option expense in the valuation of earnings numbers by partitioning the sample into pre‐ and post‐FASB 123R periods and creating consistent measures of GAAP and Core Earnings. Our price results indicate that Core Earnings is more value relevant than GAAP earnings in the pre‐period after controlling for stock option expense, and in the post‐FASB 123R periods. The price results provide empirical evidence consistent with S&P's expectation that a uniformly calculated earnings measure is a more consistent and useful indicator of current performance and future earnings.     

The effect of a potential borrower's reporting reputation and financial condition on commercial loan officers' estimates of forecast bias and subsequent loan recommendations

This paper investigates whether a potential borrower's reporting reputation and financial condition affect commercial loan officers' loan judgments and recommendations after receiving an earnings forecast that predicts improved financial performance. The results suggest that the earnings forecast is perceived as more credible in the presence of (1) a reputation for objective reporting, and (2) strong financial condition. Also, a reputation for objective reporting allowed the borrower to more credibly convey the expected improvement in performance when financial condition was weak. However, while financial condition predictably affects loan recommendations (likelihood of granting the loan, interest rate), reporting reputation does not. While we find that commercial loan officers discount forecasts under similar circumstances as stock analysts, results suggest that the consequences of developing a reputation for aggressive reporting (e.g., aggressive selection of accounting methods and estimates within GAAP) may be greater in a stock valuation setting (prior research documents lower stock prices) than in a loan setting.     

Estimating the Equity Risk Premium Using Accounting Fundamentals

This study uses recent developments in the theoretical modelling of the links between unrecorded accounting goodwill, accounting profitability and the cost of equity, together with Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) betas, to estimate the ex-ante equity risk premium in the UK. The results suggest that, over our sample period from 1968 to 1995, the premium has been in the region of 5%. Our estimate lends support to the view that the ex-ante equity risk premium is substantially less than the historical average of the excess of equity returns over the risk-free rate, and is similar to the rates applied recently by UK competition regulators.     

Fixed Asset Revaluation and Equity Depletion in the UK

UK GAAP has traditionally allowed the write-off of purchased goodwill directly to reserves, resulting in the widespread depletion of book equity. Companies have also been permitted to revalue fixed assets at management's discretion. This study examines whether upward revaluations have been associated with the depletion of book equity and with other costly contracting explanations identified in prior research. Our results provide strong support for the equity depletion hypothesis, both with regard to the decision to revalue and the timing of the revaluations. Indebtedness, liquidity, size and fixed asset intensity are also consistently associated with upward revaluation.     

商誉权法律属性争议之澄清

商誉权的法律属性有知识产权说、复合权说和人格权说三大观点。知识产权是建立在公共产品上的非绝对化私权;商誉不具有公共产品的属性,商誉权作为绝对的私权与知识产权有着本质区别。复合权说强调商誉权的无形财产权属性,而通过与性质最相似的形象权比较可知,复合权说夸大了商誉权的保护范围而存在理论缺陷。商誉权是一种特殊的人格权。     

The value relevance and reliability of reported goodwill and identifiable intangible assets

We examine the value relevance and reliability of reported goodwill and identifiable intangible assets under Australian GAAP from 1994 to 2003; a period characterised by relatively restrictive accounting treatment for goodwill and relatively flexible accounting treatment for identifiable intangible assets. Our findings, using an adaptation of Feltham and Ohlson (1995), suggest that for the average Australian company the information presented with respect to both goodwill and identifiable intangible assets is value relevant but not reliable. In particular, goodwill tends to be reported conservatively while identifiable intangible assets are reported aggressively.     

加入世界贸易组织对中国社会经济的深层影响

本文认为,我国加入世界贸易组织,首先解决了“入世”前长期困扰我国的美国给予中国最惠国待遇的问题,为我国的对外经贸关系创造了良好的国际环境,也为我国塑造开放的、负责任的大国形象奠定了扎实的基础;其次,“入世”时遵守国际规则的承诺促进了我国继续改革开放,一些重要原则已经延伸到经贸领域之外的范围,影响巨大而深远,从而使我国可能成为以国际谈判促进国内改革的经典案例。同时,“入世”也使我们接受了双赢的理念,使我们和世界各国人民能够共同分享经济发展的成果,共同期待经济的更大发展。     

并购商誉、商誉减值与股票错误定价

以近年来上市公司频发的并购重组为背景,选取2007—2019年我国沪深A股上市公司为研究样本,实证检验了并购商誉对股票错误定价的影响。研究发现,商誉加剧了并购方的股票错误定价,高商誉的公司股价被严重高估,计提商誉减值能够向投资者传递增量信息,缓解商誉导致的股票错误定价。进一步研究发现,会计稳健性和投资者情绪在并购商誉对股票错误定价的影响中发挥了部分中介作用。商誉对股票错误定价的影响在管理层持股高、分析师跟踪人数多的情况下更为显著,上市公司大股东及管理层存在利用并购商誉导致的股价高估实现高位减持的行为。研究结论有助于投资者对并购商誉正确定价,提高资本市场定价效率。     

重要性水平在自创商誉处理中的运用

知识经济时代，自创商誉作为企业价值的组成部分，对企业发展的影响深远，然而如此具有高价值相关性的信息却被排除在财务报表之外。文章将重要性水平运用于自创商誉的处理中，以自创商誉的构成因素——品牌为例测算了品牌资产对企业的价值贡献度，然后判断其重要性水平。高于重要性水平的企业信息需要披露给信息使用者，这样便于将重要的自创商誉信息传递给信息使用者。     

Market valuations of bargain purchase gains: are these true gains under IFRS?

This study investigates stock market valuations for bargain purchase gains (BPGs) in the context of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) between 2005 and 2014. Motivated by the increased frequency and high concentration of BPGs in Europe, we study a sample of acquirers listed on the London Stock Exchange to assess the value relevance of BPGs (a) under discrepant disclosure practices (i.e. disclosure versus non- disclosure of the reasons for the gains), (b) before and after the revision of IFRS 3, and (c) considering different income classifications for BPGs (operating or non-operating earnings). BPGs, on average, are not significantly valued by the stock market. However, the post-IFRS 3 revision period, marked by stricter measurement criteria and additional disclosure requirements, witnessed a significant shift in firm valuations. BPGs for which the reason for the gain is disclosed are positively valued only in the post-IFRS 3 revision period. BPGs are consistently perceived as value irrelevant for those firms which fail to comply with mandated IFRS 3 disclosure requirements regarding the reason for the gain. Finally, BPGs classified as a component of non-operating income with sufficient note disclosure on the reason for the gain are significantly associated with prices and returns.