Unusual Digital Patterns in EPS: Evidence On the Association Between Earnings Management and Company Characteristics

Authors

Charles E. Jordan, University of Southern MississippiFollow
Stanley J. Clark, University of Southern MississippiFollow
Mary M. Anderson, University of Southern MississippiFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2008

School

Accountancy

Abstract

Prior studies (Thomas, 1989; Das and Zhang, 2003) provide evidence of earnings manipulation to achieve cognitive reference points in EPS. The current study extends this line of research by examining the relation between unusual digital patterns in the right EPS position and specific firm characteristics. Results suggest that the propensity to manage earnings to effect desired EPS results is particularly associated with company size and to a lesser degree with operating performance and the level of debt leverage employed.

Publication Title

Journal of Business and Economics Research

Volume

6

Issue

1

First Page

31

Last Page

40

Recommended Citation

Jordan, C. E., Clark, S. J., Anderson, M. M. (2008). Unusual Digital Patterns in EPS: Evidence On the Association Between Earnings Management and Company Characteristics. Journal of Business and Economics Research, 6(1), 31-40.
Available at: https://aquila.usm.edu/fac_pubs/17041