The Effect of Earnings Quality Measures on Excess Stock Return

The present study aims at investigating the influence of earnings quality measures on excess stock return and the capability of each one of those measures in explanation for this excess. For so doing, in the current research, eight measures for earnings quality in four total categories have been used: time series measures (persistence and earnings predictability), smoothness measures (volatility of earnings or accruals to operating cash flows volatility), accruals-based measures (abnormal accruals and accruals quality) and market-based measures (earnings response coefficient and value relevance). Research sample consists of 62 firms listed in Tehran Stock Exchange in time interval of 1376-1392 (1997-2013). Findings indicate that among measures for earnings quality, accruals-based measures and value relevance have negative and significant influence on the absolute of excess stock return. Time series measures, accruals volatility to operating cash flows volatility (earnings smoothing), and earnings response coefficient have significant but positive influence on the absolute of excess stock return. Furthermore, earnings volatility to operating cash flows volatility (earnings smoothing) does not have significant influence on the absolute of excess stock return. Also, among the Criteria for earnings quality, accruals-based measures have more ability than other measures in explanation of the absolute of excess stock return.