EARNINGS MANAGEMENT AND STOCK RETURN PREDICTABILITY: EVIDENCE FROM KAZAKHSTAN

Abstract

For investors, board of directors and other stakeholders, earnings appear to be one of the most important items in financial statements (Burgstahler and Dichev, 1997). Investments in the firms’ securities are most often based on the financial position and performance of the firm as reflected in financial statements. This may incentivize managers to manage the reported earnings, creating a favorable image of the company. Healy and Wahlen (1999) define earnings management as managers intentionally altering reported earnings with the intent of affecting stakeholders’ view of the financial position and/or performance of the firm.