Accounting Standards Codification Research Articles

Losing altitude: The impact of new leasing standards on the liquidity, leverage, profitability and valuation of U.S. and European airlines

The global airline industry represents fertile ground for research due to its susceptibility to extraneous demand shocks such as fuel price hikes, terrorist attacks, and global pandemics coupled with high leverage and high reliance on leasing. Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 842 Leases and International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) 16 Leases became effective January 1st, 2019 for publicly-traded firms in the U.S. and overseas, requiring capitalization of the majority of leased assets. This study was motivated by how the acts may have affected reported airline liquidity, leverage, profitability and stock price, and if any evidence existed of lease restructure attempts in order to avoid capitalization; which may provide initial impacts. Using a sample of publicly-traded airlines incorporated in the U.S. and Europe, the current study used firm year-level filings from 2017 to 2019 to determine if passage of the acts were associated with changes in liquidity, leverage, profitability and stock price. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and independent samples t-test parametric statistical testing was employed to determine any statistically significant change in the means of selected ratios operationalizing liquidity, leverage, profitability and firm valuation. The results indicated no significance for any of the variables operationalizing the latent constructs providing evidence contrary to previous predictions, and a significant difference between the two regions, worthy of further study. These findings are significant due to the vast financial reporting implications associated with these acts and their potential to skew financial ratios, juxtaposed against the ever-present threat of extraneous demand shocks which permeate this industry. The research also suggests management may have attempted lease restructures to circumvent the capitalization requirements of the act and warrants further research to investigate the generalizability of these findings to other industries.

Variable Considerations in ASC 606, Earnings Management and Business Continuity during Crisis

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) released Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 606, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers”, with the aim of enhancing transparency to provide fairer representation and inhibit the misuse of revenues to manipulate earnings. During COVID-19, variable considerations in ASC 606 were used to manage earnings as a tool to help firms survive. The study aimed to test the mediating role of earnings management in influencing the effect of variable considerations in ASC 606 on the continuity of the firm. An online questionnaire was sent to financial reporting preparers in US public shareholding firms; 403 valid questionnaires were received. The results of PLS-SEM revealed that crises such as COVID-19 have highlighted the way in which variable considerations in ASC 606 were exploited to manage firms’ earnings to ensure their survival. Companies resort to showing their best financial performance, beautifying its financial reports by manipulating profits, using flexibility in accounting policies, but this may negatively affect the country’s entire economy by collapsing companies and creating more financial crises that cannot be easily addressed.

The Economic Consequences of Accounting Standard Transition in Hospitality Companies

ABSTRACTThis research centers around the accounting transition to Accounting Standards Codification Topic 606 (ASC 606) in hospitality companies and tests the transition’s effect on these public hospitality companies’ firm value from both long-term and short-term perspectives. The findings revealed that the accounting standard transition negatively affects firm value from a long-term view but positively affects it from a short-term view. We also found that the choice of accounting transition method matters and leads to different economic consequences for hospitality companies’ firm value. Our findings have many important implications for managerial practices and regulators.

Clarification or Confusion: A Textual Analysis of ASC 842 Lease Transition Disclosures

We study the transition disclosures in firms’ 10-K filings preceding the mandatory adoption of Accounting Standards Codification 842 on leases. We find that ASC 842 transition disclosures become more unreadable and dissimilar the closer to adoption, potentially because the SEC guidance on transition disclosures emphasizes detail on the specifics of the standard and whether it has material effects on future financial statements. As a result, firms’ ASC 842 transition disclosures reflect an increasing amount of technical and complex language over the transition period. Firms’ increasing use of technical and complex language may not benefit all investors and the market as a whole. Based on tests of the change in analysts’ earnings forecast delay and market uncertainty in stock returns, we find that ASC 842 transition disclosures mostly favor investors with superior information processing skills. This is contrary to the statutory goal of the SEC to increase transparency for all investors who may prefer firms’ use of clear and straightforward language to describe the effects of future accounting changes.

Revisiting the impact of ASC 280: Liquidity, operating performance, and market value

AbstractThe Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) enacted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 131 (now Accounting Standards Codification 280) to improve the valuation of firms’ future growth opportunities through changes to segment disclosures. Prior research on foreign investment relies primarily on levels analyses. Using both changes and levels analyses, we provide evidence that investments in foreign fixed assets by US firms is significantly and positively related to operating income and net cash flows from operations. Foreign fixed assets are also significantly and positively related to stock prices, returns, and stock liquidity. Generally, our results suggest that increases in international diversification are related to increased operating performance and liquidity, while our price and returns results suggest that investors incorporate geographic asset data in their valuation models.

Machine learning in accounting: Insight from the March 2023 bank failures

This research investigates the bank failures in the United States in March 2023, concentrating on the impact of held-to-maturity debt instruments in the event and the implications for accounting methods. Our research deciphers the alleged “accounting loophole” (Farrell, 2023) associated with these securities and provides an in-depth analysis of the associated accounting treatment. We analyze the accounting treatment using the Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Furthermore, our study employs automated machine learning techniques and the local interpretable model-agnostic explanations (LIME) method to identify key accounting features that could explain bank failures. The research identifies five essential accounting aspects, two of which are related to held-to-maturity assets. The findings underscore the importance of these accounting features in evaluating financial institutions, thereby providing valuable insights for stakeholders, decision-makers, and future research. Our research also advocates for increased transparency and accuracy in accounting practices, via ASC 825 (Financial Accounting Standards Board [FASB], n.d.-a), particularly related to the fair value of held-to-maturity securities.

Economic consequences of bargain purchase gains under ASC 805: evidence from banking industry

ABSTRACT I examine whether bargain purchase gains (previously known as negative goodwill) reported under FASB’s Accounting Standards Codification 805, Business Combinations (ASC 805) in FDIC-assisted transactions represent economic gains to the acquiring banks and thereby qualify as part of banks’ Tier 1 capital. In a sample of 135 publicly-held U.S. banks that acquired failed banks in the period January 2009-April 2012, I find that bargain purchase gains are positively associated with acquirers’ future stock market and operating performance. Also, bargain purchase gains appear to capture expected future gains, including and beyond the FDIC subsidy. Specifically, the component of bargain purchase gains that is less likely related to the FDIC subsidy is positively associated with acquirers’ future short-run and long-run stock market performance and accounting operating performance. Finally, the factors, such as agency problem, internal control strength, and corporate governance strength, that affect the reliability of financial reporting matter for the reliability of bargain purchase gain estimation. Overall, the results imply that fair value accounting as implemented under ASC 805 enables bargain purchase gains to reliably reflect expected future economic gains, rather than measurement error or agency problem.

Valuation Challenges Arising From the New Leasing Standard ASC 842: A Teaching Note

Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 842, the new accounting standard on leasing, aims to improve transparency related to leasing and to enable users of financial statements to more readily compare firms that lease with firms that borrow to buy assets. The standard is effective for 2020 and has had a significant impact on the balance sheets of many firms. This note provides an overview of the accounting changes and highlights key issues related to financial analysis and valuation with guidance on how to avoid common errors and accurately calculate and compare enterprise value, EBIT, EBITDA, valuation multiples and key valuation ratios. We also explain how financial data providers, Bloomberg, Capital IQ and FactSet, have adapted the information provided on these metrics.

Debt Contracting and Changes to the Accounting for Leases: Implications of Accounting Standards Codification 842

Debt Contracting and Changes to the Accounting for Leases: Implications of Accounting Standards Codification 842

Writing Accounting Research Memos: An Instructional Case to Introduce the Basics

ABSTRACTThis case introduces students to the basics of accounting research memo construction. Accounting research memos can overwhelm students because memos involve researching the Accounting Standards Codification (ASC), analyzing the issue, and writing in a specific format using a professional tone. The case involves an audit client with a lawsuit-based contingent liability. The audit team recently received the legal representation letter and needs to document the correct accounting for the lawsuit. The applicable ASC and required journal entry are provided, allowing students to focus on memo construction. The case requires students to write an accounting research memo using the provided information. Students learn the structure and creation of accounting research memos, how to paraphrase and analyze the ASC, and thus demonstrate professional writing skills. This case is appropriate for a course that introduces students to writing accounting research memos with an assessment done by the instructor or the students themselves.

Accounting for leases – lessons from COVID-19

Purpose The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) have given relief to lessees in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. However, it is not clear why any relief from the requirements in International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) or the Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) should be necessary. The purpose of this paper is to highlight weaknesses in how the IASB and FASB developed their leases Standards, and why those Standards are not robust enough to cope with a shock to the economic system. Design/methodology/approach The COVID-19 relief suspends some features of the leasing requirements rather than changing them. What if other economic or regulatory events cause the same circumstances to arise? Findings Have COVID-19 exposed weaknesses in the leasing standards that should have been avoided when they were developed or is COVID-19 the problem? Originality/value Analysis of actual board discussions and staff papers is unusual and provides insights into the standard-setting process.

Litigation-Disclosure Modifications in the 10-K: Large-Sample Evidence

This study is the first to examine the litigation-disclosure modifications of legal proceedings (i.e., Item 103) and contingency-note disclosures (i.e., Accounting Standards Codification [ASC] 450) in the 10-K. Litigation-disclosure modifications are defined as the amount of litigation content disclosed in year t but not in year t– 1. I first confirm the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) and the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (FASB) concern that firms are providing less litigation-disclosure modifications. I then find firms with higher proprietary cost, higher litigation risk, and non-Big 4 auditors to be associated with more litigation-disclosure modifications. I also find that although firms are providing less litigation-disclosure modifications in the two litigation sections, such disclosures do predict future occurrence of litigation cases and are complementary in providing litigation information to investors. Results indirectly support the FASB’s 2012 decision to not precede with disclosure policy changes in contingency-note disclosures.

The Impact of Accounting Standard Adoption Complexity on Financial Reporting Quality and Market Outcomes: Evidence from ASC 606

This study examines the impact of accounting standard adoption complexity on financial reporting quality and market outcomes. We capture adoption complexity by uniquely using adoption-related disclosures required under Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) 74. We examine the adoption outcomes of the new revenue recognition standard under Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 606. This standard is one of the most significant changes to accounting standards in recent times. Among materially impacted companies, we find that those with greater adoption complexity experience lower revenue-related financial reporting quality and lower information asymmetry in the post-adoption period. Importantly, we find that reductions in information asymmetry only occur for companies with complex adoptions and higher adoption quality, suggesting that the market discerns between high- and low-quality adopters. Overall, our results suggest that while the adoption of ASC 606 is challenging, it is associated with market benefits. Notably, they underscore the importance for future research and market participants that evaluate adoption outcomes to consider adoption complexity and adoption quality. Otherwise, they could miss an important facet of the adoption and may attribute adoption outcomes less precisely.

Continued Impact of International Financial Reporting Standards on U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles

The milestone outcomes of over a decade of close cooperation between the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) on the convergence of U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (U.S. GAAP) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) have been highly publicized in the professional media. Great attention has been paid to such joint FASB and IASB projects as accounting for business combinations, fair value measurement, and revenue recognition. The impact of U.S. GAAP on IFRS has also been discussed and highlighted in many professional and academic resources. It should come as no surprise since FASB is considered a world leader in creating high-quality standards through an exemplary standard-setting process. In this paper, we look at the least noticed outcome of the convergence process: the impact of IFRS on U.S. GAAP. We reviewed all of the Accounting Standards Updates (ASUs) to the FASB Accounting Standards Codification®, from the first issued in June 2009 to 2016, and listed instances where U.S. GAAP was significantly modified to reflect international solutions. These examples of U.S. GAAP modifications indicate that the impact of IFRS on U.S. GAAP continued well after the bilateral cooperation between FASB and IASB effectively ended in 2014. Furthermore, look at the most recent FASB pronouncement let us conclude that the FASB continues to be engaged in seeking comparable global accounting solutions.

Do Trading Derivatives Classification Affect Bank Holding Company’s Earnings Volatility And Firm Value?

This study examines the differential impact of bank holding companies (BHCs) that consistently report trading gains (successful speculators) and those that consistently report no gain or trading losses (unsuccessful speculators) on earnings volatility and firm value. Under Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 815 (previously SFAS 133- Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities), all gains/losses related to trading derivatives are recognized in current earnings; whereas, gains/losses on hedging derivatives are netted with changes in the fair value of the underlying asset/liability with only the ineffective portion of the hedge being reported in current earnings. Given differential accounting recognition and underlying risk factors, we expect and find that current period trading gains/losses lead to greater earnings volatility; however, the relationship becomes insignificant when BHCs consistently report trading gains (successful speculators) or no gains and trading losses (unsuccessful speculation). Further we find that successful speculation is significantly negatively associated with firm value, which implies that market participants perceive trading positions held by BHCs as high-risk investments regardless of the outcome of the trading exposure. The findings of this study should be useful to business professionals, bank regulators, and accounting standard setters in determining the economic impact of current accounting standards on bank performance, investors in evaluating the costs and benefits of bank’s derivative risk management policies, and accounting academics in evaluating the impact of current accounting regulation on bank derivative use.

Larson Industries: A Case on Identifying and Researching Revenue Recognition Issues

ABSTRACTFinancial accounting students are often provided cues regarding a particular recognition/measurement issue prior to learning the related technical material. Yet, anecdotal evidence from the profession suggests that the identification and framing of complex issues is a necessary skill for emerging professionals. This case provides accounting students a hypothetical scenario that requires them to identify several financial reporting issues, research the relevant authoritative guidance, and arrive at conclusions regarding the appropriate reporting treatment. The recent implementation of the updated revenue recognition guidance per Topic 606 from the Financial Accounting Standards Board's Accounting Standards Codification® and IFRS 15 from the International Accounting Standards Board provides a current and relevant setting for this issue identification and evaluation exercise. Results from graduate-level courses at two universities indicate that students perceived great benefits in (1) identifying and framing revenue recognition issues without textbook cues and (2) learning the new authoritative guidance.

A Note on Leases

This technical note explains how to account for leases under Accounting Standards Codification 842. This new addition to US generally accepted accounting principles became effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. The note provides broad treatment for how a lessee will account for a short-term, operating, and financing lease, and how a lessor will account for short-term and sales-type leases with and without manufacturing profit. The intent is to provide a brief overview of lease accounting. As such, it is most appropriate for MBA or finance students who need to understand the broad effects of leases on the balance sheet, income statement, and statement of cash flows. Excerpt UVA-C-2439 May 28, 2020 A Note on Leases Background As you may have seen from your own personal experience, leases are contracts where the lessee obtains the right to use an asset (such as an apartment, vehicle, or other) in exchange for a series of regular payments to the lessor. While common in practice, these arrangements have caused challenges for standard setters and analysts. The big question is who owns the asset after the arrangement—the lessee, the lessor, or both? In the past (generally fiscal years 2018 and prior), many firms that leased assets were able to structure the lease in a way that made it appear that they were borrowing the asset for a short term. Therefore, the balance sheet did not include the asset or corresponding liability for the lease payments. Firms were motivated to structure leases in this manner in order to appear less levered. They could simply renew the short-term lease and continue operating the asset over long horizons without ever recording the asset and liability on the balance sheet. . . .

Accounting for Business Combinations (Topic 805)

This article discusses the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 805, as promulgated by the 2019 Accounting Standards Update (ASU) concerning Business Combinations. It focuses on revenue from contracts with customers. Several concerns regarding how and when to recognize an assumed liability after a business combination were raised by users and preparers of financial statements. Concerns emerged from the differing views on how a liability (that is, performance obligation) is defined within the FASB ASC Topic 606 regarding revenue from contracts with customers. Determining how and if a contract liability is recognized in a business combination from a revenue contract were the major concerns. This article reviews a brief history of business combinations and contracts with customers. It explores the issue from various accounting perspectives (such as financial and managerial accounting, tax accounting, governmental accounting issues, ethical implications, and international accounting). Potential questions for future research regarding this topic are presented. The 16 Comment Letters sent to the FASB are discussed. The results of a survey administered as part of this research are presented.

Cointegration, Price-Adjustment Delays, and Optimal Hedge Ratio in the Precious Metal Markets

Firms seeking to apply hedge accounting treatment under the Accounting Standards Codification Topic 815 must demonstrate higher hedge effectiveness, for which the regression analysis is commonly used as a testing method. An autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model is adopted in this article to examine the hedge effectiveness in the presence of nonsynchronous trading of spot and futures contracts as well as a long-run cointegrating relationship between their prices. Using precious metal market data, our study empirically demonstrates that a hedge ratio estimated with a conventional OLS model tends to be downwardly biased. Our finding also indicates that the omitted-variable bias becomes apparent only when the difference between the transaction frequencies in spot and futures markets is significantly large.

Big 4 Auditors, Litigation Risk, and Disclosure Tone

We examine the effect of Big 4 auditors on management’s use of optimistic language in audited financial statement disclosures. While regulators and practitioners consider the audit of disclosures to be increasingly important, empirical evidence of an auditor’s effect on management’s qualitative disclosure choices is limited. Focusing on the notes to the financial statements, which are the primary disclosure item subject to audit, we find that the tone of the qualitative footnote disclosures is significantly more reflective of bad economic news in the presence of a Big 4 auditor compared with a non-Big 4 auditor. This inference continues to hold for a matched sample constructed using entropy balancing to control for inherent differences between clients of Big 4 and non-Big 4 auditors. The Big 4 effect on footnote disclosure tone is more pronounced for the subsample of companies with high litigation risk. A transaction-based analysis of specific footnotes reveals a generally signficant Big 4 effect on footnote disclosure tone when the footnotes are related to signficant business transactions under the Broad Transactions category of the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Accounting Standards Codification. Finally, when we examine Management’s Discussion and Analysis, which is not subject to audit, we do not find a Big 4 effect on the sensitivity of its tone to bad news. Our results are consistent with higher litigation exposure motivating Big 4 auditors to constrain management’s use of optimistic language while auditing financial reports. This research provides new evidence to the ongoing regulatory discussions regarding the value of auditing disclosures.