Financial Reporting Regulation and the Reporting of Pro Forma Earnings

2006 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary M. Entwistle ◽  
Glenn D. Feltham ◽  
Chima Mbagwu
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Public Confidence ◽  
Strong Impact ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ◽  
Pro Forma Earnings ◽  
Sarbanes Oxley ◽  
Evidence For Policy ◽  
Pro Forma

A primary objective of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act is to bolster public confidence in the U.S. capital markets. The SEC aims to achieve this objective in part by regulating the use of alternate earnings measures (colloquially referred to as “pro forma” earnings) that differ from generally accepted accounting principles. This paper examines whether firms change their reporting practice in response to pro forma regulation. Specifically, it examines whether the use, calculation, and presentation of pro forma measures by S&P 500 companies changes between 2001 and 2003. We document three significant shifts in pro forma reporting in this period. First, the proportion of firms reporting pro forma earnings declines from 77 to 54 percent. Second, by 2003, pro forma is used in a less biased manner. Not only is the proportion of firms using pro forma earnings to increase reported income smaller than in 2001, but also the magnitudes of these increases are reduced. Third, in 2003, firms present pro formas in press releases in a much less prominent and less potentially misleading manner. These results suggest a strong impact of the recent regulation of pro forma reporting and provide important empirical evidence for policy makers.

Pro forma disclosure practices of firms applying IFRS

2015 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 383-403 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lori Solsma ◽  
W. Mark Wilder
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Foreign Firms ◽  
Reporting Standard ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ◽  
Financial Reporting Standards ◽  
Annual Earnings ◽  
Pro Forma

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is empirically investigate the pro forma disclosure behavior of US-listed foreign firms applying International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Design/methodology/approach – The annual earnings press releases of US-listed foreign firms on the New York Stock Exchange are analyzed to compare the effect that reporting standard (specifically IFRS) has on pro forma disclosure frequency, disclosure characteristics and benchmarking. Findings – US-listed foreign firms applying IFRS report pro forma disclosures more frequently than firms using the USA’s generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), but less opportunistically. Originality/value – This paper extends Epping and Wilder’s (2011) study and contributes to the pro forma disclosure literature by providing a cross-country analysis of non-GAAP disclosure based on reporting standard (IFRS or US GAAP). Understanding the non-GAAP disclosure of firms applying IFRS is useful to investors and regulators, as more countries adopt IFRS.

scholarly journals Who Trades on Pro Forma Earnings Information?

2007 ◽  
Vol 82 (3) ◽  
pp. 581-619 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nilabhra Bhattacharya ◽  
Ervin L. Black ◽  
Theodore E. Christensen ◽  
Richard D. Mergenthaler
Keyword(s):  
Individual Investors ◽  
Press Releases ◽  
Earnings Surprise ◽  
Earnings Information ◽  
Pro Forma Earnings ◽  
Sarbanes Oxley ◽  
Core Earnings ◽  
Earnings Disclosures ◽  
Pro Forma ◽  
Financial Press

In recent years, many companies have emphasized adjusted-GAAP earnings numbers in their quarterly press releases. While managers use different names to describe these nonstandard earnings metrics, the financial press frequently refers to them as “pro forma” earnings. Managers and other advocates of pro forma reporting argue that these disclosures provide a clearer picture of companies' core earnings. On the other hand, regulators, policymakers, and the financial press often allege that managers' pro forma earnings disclosures are opportunistic attempts to mislead investors. Recent evidence suggests that while many pro forma earnings disclosures are altruistically motivated, some may represent managers' attempts to portray overly optimistic financial performance. If this is the case, then less wealthy, less sophisticated, individual investors are arguably the most at risk of being misled. Consequently, this study investigates who trades on pro forma earnings information. Our intraday investigation of transactions around earnings announcements containing pro forma earnings information reveals that less sophisticated investors' announcement-period abnormal trading is significantly positively associated with the magnitude and direction of the earnings surprise based on pro forma earnings. In contrast, we find no association between sophisticated investors' trading and manager-reported pro forma information. Overall, our analyses and numerous robustness tests suggest that the segment of the market that relies on pro forma earnings information is populated predominantly by less sophisticated individual investors. This evidence is particularly relevant to standard-setters and regulators given that Section 401(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and subsequent SEC regulations are specifically designed to protect ordinary investors from misleading pro forma information.

Excel Competency for the Professional Accountant: Advanced Applications, Controls, and Audit Add-ins

2010 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
William C. Brown ◽  
Byron Pike
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Error Rates ◽  
International Financial Reporting Standards ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Reporting Standards ◽  
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ◽  
Accounting Information Systems ◽  
Financial Reporting Standards ◽  
Sarbanes Oxley ◽  
Extensible Markup

Personal experience indicates that many accounting students do not understand Excel sufficiently well to master spreadsheet controls required for Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) compliance or International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) adoption. Students are typically exposed to Excel at various levels of intensity in high school and college, but the exposure is inadequate in the breadth and depth necessary for compliance within the regulatory requirements and professional accounting standards. Some authors are forecasting extensive use of spreadsheets or manual processes to reconcile dual reporting of traditional U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) (Difazio and Gannon 2010; Steele 2010). Moreover, error rates of over 90% have been documented in accounting applications using Excel before SOX compliance (Panko 2008). Given this environment, we argue that an Accounting Information Systems (AIS) curriculum can be enhanced by first teaching the functional competency in Excel to students and then integrating such Excel knowledge within the typical AIS coursework that includes The Committee of Sponsoring Organizations (COSO) standards, SOX, Control Objectives for Information and related Technology (COBiT), computer assisted audit tools (CAATs), and eXtensible Markup Language (XML). Our adoption of this approach resulted in increased student competency, better teaching evaluations, and more desirable accounting graduates.

scholarly journals Is There Transparency In Auditor Change Disclosures?

2011 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas G. Calderon ◽  
Emeka Ofobike ◽  
John J. Cheh
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Internal Control ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Audit Committees ◽  
Font Size ◽  
Sarbanes Oxley ◽  
Big 4 ◽  
Auditor Change ◽  
Required Disclosures

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 31.2pt 0pt 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">In this paper, we examine the reasons disclosed in a small representative sample of Form 8-Ks for switching auditors. We classify auditor switches in terms of changes from big-4 to other big-4, big-4 to non-big-4, non-big-4 to big-4 and non-big-4 to non-big-4. Our primary objective is to assess compliance with the required disclosures for auditor changes and to reflect on the implications for corporate governance. This line of research is important in light of the requirements of SEC Regulation S-K 304 and recent calls for greater transparency in financial reporting, particularly after Sarbanes-Oxley.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Our research shows that companies use boilerplate language and adopt a check-the-box approach to compliance with Regulation S-K 304. Contrary to the spirit and intent of corporate governance, their disclosures generally lack transparency and offer little or no insight into the underlying reasons for auditor changes. One of the clearest patterns is that several auditor changes are preceded by such reportable events as going concern uncertainties and material internal control deficiencies that often lead to financial statement restatements. Even so, many companies are less than forthright in the language used to disclose such events. Thus, we conclude that the implied objective of auditor change regulations is not being fulfilled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>In general, neither auditors nor clients appear to take the auditor change disclosure requirements seriously. It is vital that the PCAOB, SEC, and the audit committees take note of this weakness in auditor change regulation.</span><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></strong></span></p>

Enriching AIS Courses With SOX Compliance Activities

2010 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joann Segovia ◽  
Carol M. Jessup ◽  
Marsha Weber ◽  
Sheri Erickson
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Internal Controls ◽  
Accounting Profession ◽  
Investor Confidence ◽  
Reporting Requirements ◽  
Sarbanes Oxley ◽  
Audit Firms ◽  
Significant Change

A very significant change to the accounting profession occurred in 2002 when the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX) was enacted. This legislation had a significant impact on corporations and their audit firms. The objective was to improve corporate governance and its quality of financial reporting to improve investor confidence. This paper provides instructors with a background on SOX and suggests readings and activities that reflect the requirements of SOX as it relates to the AIS environment and the analysis of internal controls. These activities can strengthen students' understandings of how corporations respond to the various reporting requirements of this Act.

Do Managers Use Pro Forma Earnings Disclosures to Cater to Investor Sentiment?*

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nerissa C. Brown ◽  
Theodore E. Christensen ◽  
W. Brooke Elliott ◽  
Richard Dean Mergenthaler
Keyword(s):  
Investor Sentiment ◽  
Pro Forma Earnings ◽  
Earnings Disclosures ◽  
Pro Forma

The Impact of Economic Crisis on Tourism Industry: A Bangladesh Perspective

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Md. Ziaul Haque
Keyword(s):  
Economic Crisis ◽  
Tourism Industry ◽  
Political Crisis ◽  
Strong Impact ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Tourism Product ◽  
International Tourist ◽  
Sustained Recovery ◽  
The Impact

The tourism sector is experiencing numerous challenges as a result of the global economic crisis. After a significant contraction in 2009, tourism rebounded strongly  in  2010  and  in  2011  the  international  tourist  arrivals  and  receipts  are projected to increase substantially. The Tourism industry is expected to show a sustained recovery in 2012. The crisis has particularly strong impact and slightly negative consequences in Bangladesh. The country is undergoing a political crisis, as well, and it seems that the forthcoming elections may be the only solution for the restoration of stability and social peace.  In addition, tourism can be the driving force behind Bangladesh economic recovery. However, for its achievement the country’s policy makers should take several measures towards restructuring and improving the sector. These measures include: enhancement of alternative forms of tourism; environmental protection; creation of quality infrastructure; and boost of competitiveness through a tourism product that offers value for money

The Impact Of Economic Crisis On Tourism Industry: A Bangladesh Perspective

2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 15
Author(s):  
Md. Ziaul Haque
Keyword(s):  
Economic Crisis ◽  
Tourism Industry ◽  
Political Crisis ◽  
Strong Impact ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Tourism Product ◽  
International Tourist ◽  
Sustained Recovery ◽  
The Impact

The tourism sector is experiencing numerous challenges as a result of the global economic crisis. After a significant contraction in 2009, tourism rebounded strongly  in  2010  and  in  2011  the  international  tourist  arrivals  and  receipts  are projected to increase substantially. The Tourism industry is expected to show a sustained recovery in 2012. The crisis has particularly strong impact and slightly negative consequences in Bangladesh. The country is undergoing a political crisis, as well, and it seems that the forthcoming elections may be the only solution for the restoration of stability and social peace.  In addition, tourism can be the driving force behind Bangladesh economic recovery. However, for its achievement the country’s policy makers should take several measures towards restructuring and improving the sector. These measures include: enhancement of alternative forms of tourism; environmental protection; creation of quality infrastructure; and boost of competitiveness through a tourism product that offers value for money

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document