How can earnings management affect the quality of earnings?

Short Answer

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The quality of earnings is negatively affected by earnings management. Earnings management lowers the reliability element of income.

Step by step solution

01

Meaning of Earnings Management

Earnings management is used by companies that represent the overall positive viewof the company's activities and financial statements.

02

Earnings management affecting the quality of earnings

If misleading information is provided, it will negativelyhamper the quality of earnings. Earnings management reduces the reliability of incomeas it reports biased income. Information in the financial statements must be relevant and faithfully represented to ensure the confidence of investors and other interested parties.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Generally accepted accounting principles usually require the use of accrual accounting to “fairly present” income. If the cash receipts and disbursements method of accounting will “clearly reflect” taxable income, why does this method not usually also “fairly present” income?

Finley Corporation had income from continuing operations of \(10,600,000 in 2017. During 2017, it disposed of its restaurant division at an after-tax loss of \)189,000. Prior to disposal, the division operated at a loss of $315,000 (net of tax) in 2017 (assume that the disposal of the restaurant division meets the criteria for recognition as a discontinued operation). Finley had 10,000,000 shares of common stock outstanding during 2017. Prepare a partial income statement for Finley beginning with income from continuing operations.

Question: (Earnings per Share) The stockholders’ equity section of Hendly Corporation appears below as of December 31, 2017.

8% preferred stock, \(50 par value, authorized

100,000 shares, outstanding 90,000 shares \)4,500,000

Common stock, \(1.00 par, authorized and issued 10 million shares 10,000,000

Additional paid-in capital 20,500,000

Retained earnings \)134,000,000

Net income 33,000,000167,000,000

\(202,000,000

Net income for 2017 reflects a total effective tax rate of 34%. Included in the net income figure is a loss of \)18,000,000 (before tax) as a result of a non-recurring major casualty. Preferred stock dividends of \(360,000 were declared and paid in 2017. Dividends of \)1,000,000 were declared and paid to common stockholders in 2017.

Instructions

Compute earnings per share data as it should appear on the income statement of Hendly Corporation.

Portman Corporation has retained earnings of \(675,000 at January 1, 2017. Net income during 2017 was \)1,400,000, and cash dividends declared and paid during 2017 totaled $75,000. Prepare a retained earnings statement for the year ended December 31, 2017.

Wade Corp. has 150,000 shares of common stock outstanding. In 2017, the company reports income from continuing operations before income tax of \(1,210,000. Additional transactions not considered in the \)1,210,000 are as follows.

1. In 2017, Wade Corp. sold equipment for \(40,000. The machine had originally cost \)80,000 and had accumulated depreciation of \(30,000. The gain or loss is considered non-recurring.

2. The company discontinued operations of one of its subsidiaries during the current year at a loss of \)190,000 before taxes. Assume that this transaction meets the criteria for discontinued operations. The loss from operations of the discontinued subsidiary was \(90,000 before taxes; the loss from disposal of the subsidiary was \)100,000 before taxes.

3. An internal audit discovered that amortization of intangible assets was understated by \(35,000 (net of tax) in a prior period. The amount was charged against retained earnings.

4. The company recorded a non-recurring gain of \)125,000 on the condemnation of some of its property (included in the $1,210,000).

Instructions

Analyze the above information and prepare an income statement for the year 2017, starting with income from continuing operations before income tax. Compute earnings per share as it should be shown on the face of the income statement. (Assume a total effective tax rate of 38% on all items, unless otherwise indicated.)

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