The implications of firms' derivative usage on the frequency and usefulness of management earnings forecasts

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Campbell, John L.; Cao, Sean Shun; Chang, Hye Sun; Chiorean, Raluca
• 署名单位: University System of Georgia; University of Georgia; University System of Maryland; University of Maryland College Park; Singapore Management University; Lehigh University; University System of Georgia; University of Georgia
• 刊物名称: CONTEMPORARY ACCOUNTING RESEARCH
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0823-9150
• DOI: 10.1111/1911-3846.12883
• 发表日期: 2023
• 页码: 2409-2445
• 关键词: Information asymmetry; RISK-MANAGEMENT; career concerns; disclosure; cost; determinants; association; managerial; INVESTMENT; liquidity

摘要

We investigate how firms' use of derivatives impacts voluntary disclosure and offer four main findings. First, we find that when firms begin using derivative instruments, they increase the frequency of management earnings forecasts. Second, using path analysis, we find a direct link between derivative usage and forecast frequency, as well as an indirect link through reduced earnings volatility. Third, we find that CEOs with more pronounced career concerns increase forecast frequency only when derivatives make earnings easier to forecast and find no evidence that investor demand drives the decision to provide a forecast. These results suggest that the primary mechanism for the association between derivative usage and forecast frequency is a reduction in the manager's costs of providing the forecasts. Finally, we find that the majority of derivative-induced forecasts are uninformative to capital market participants, especially after FAS 161 provided the necessary underlying data to understand how firms use derivatives. Overall, we provide the first empirical evidence that firms that use derivatives issue more management forecasts, but we also find that these incremental forecasts are largely uninformative and appear driven by managerial career concerns.