Quadrophobia: Strategic Rounding of EPS Data

Details

Author(s):
  • Joseph Grundfest
Publish Date:
October 14, 2009
Publication Title:
Rock Center for Corporate Governance Working Paper, No. 65 .
Format:
Working Paper
Citation(s):
  • Joseph A. Grundfest and Nadya Malenko, Quadrophobia: Strategic Rounding of EPS Data, Rock Center for Corporate Governance Working Paper, No. 65 (2009) (revised 2011).

Related Organization(s):

Abstract

Earnings management to round up reported EPS causes under-representation of the number four in the first post-decimal digit of EPS data, or “quadrophobia.” We develop a simple measure of earnings management based on a firm's history of quadrophobia. Quadrophobia is pervasive and persistent, and predicts future restatements, SEC enforcement actions, and class action litigation. Quadrophobia, even if the result of proper accounting practices, thus appears correlated with a propensity to engage in other problematic accounting practices. The incidence of quadrophobia increases (declines) when firms gain (lose) analyst coverage and is more pronounced in pro forma earnings in a manner consistent with capital market pressure causing strategic rounding.