Earnings management to achieve industry-average profitability in Japan

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study examines earnings management activities to achieve industry-average profitability in Japanese firms. I focus on Japanese firms because they tend to be preoccupied with the activities and profitability of industry competitors. I find that firms just meeting or slightly beating industry-average profitability (JUSTMEET_PEER firms) are positively related to real and accrual-based earnings management. I also find that the positive relationship between JUSTMEET_PEER firms and real earnings management is stronger when the JUSTMEET_PEER firms operate in more competitive industries. Finally, similar evidence is found for firms that just meet and slightly beat industry-average forecast profitability. These findings suggest that Japanese firms tend to regard industry-average profitability as an important benchmark and are likely to engage in earnings management to achieve the benchmark.