New Debt Issues and Earnings Management

Posted: 29 Sep 2012

See all articles by Aaron D. Crabtree

Aaron D. Crabtree

University of Nebraska at Lincoln

John J. Maher

Virginia Tech

Huishan Wan

University of Iowa - Department of Accounting; University of Nebraska at Lincoln - School of Accountancy

Date Written: September 21, 2012

Abstract

We empirically examine the influence and effects of three recognized real earnings management (REM) procedures on the debt market by investigating the bond rating decision established by analysts with respect to a firm’s new bond issue, and also by exploring REM’s influence in determining the actual market price of a firm’s new debt offerings. Extant research provides conflicting representations concerning the effects of REM techniques on equity shareholders depending on the setting and is relatively silent related to debt market participants. Our results indicate a negative association of all three REM manipulation methods examined with respect to the analyst assigned bond rating, and a positive association with the market yield of the firm’s debt issuance. This overall negative impression of firm utilization of REM techniques regarding the cost of debt is significantly moderated when the firm utilizes these techniques in order to avoid reporting a net loss or to meet analysts’ consensus earnings forecast.

Keywords: real earnings management, bond ratings, bond yields, earnings benchmarks

JEL Classification: M41

Suggested Citation

Crabtree, Aaron D. and Maher, John J. and Wan, Huishan and Wan, Huishan, New Debt Issues and Earnings Management (September 21, 2012). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2153982

Aaron D. Crabtree (Contact Author)

University of Nebraska at Lincoln ( email )

730 N. 14th Street
Lincoln, NE 68583
United States

John J. Maher

Virginia Tech ( email )

250 Drillfield Drive
Blacksburg, VA 24061
United States

Huishan Wan

University of Iowa - Department of Accounting ( email )

108 Pappajohn Business Building
Iowa City, IA 52242-1000
United States

University of Nebraska at Lincoln - School of Accountancy ( email )

307 College of Business Administration
Lincoln, NE 68588-0488
United States
402-472-6055 (Phone)

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Abstract Views
857
PlumX Metrics