The role of accounting accruals for the prediction of future cash flows: evidence from Spain

The aim of this study is to determine whether accruals have information value beyond that provided by isolated current cash flows for the prediction of future cash flows. Using a sample of 4,397 Spanish companies (mostly privately held), we estimate in-sample regressions of future cash flows on isol...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Arnedo Ajona, Laura, Lizarraga Dallo, Fermín, Sánchez Alegría, Santiago
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2012
País:España
Institución:Universidad Pública de Navarra
Repositorio:Academica-e. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad Pública de Navarra
OAI Identifier:oai:academica-e.unavarra.es:2454/31502
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2454/31502
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Cash flows
Accruals
Prediction
Descripción
Sumario:The aim of this study is to determine whether accruals have information value beyond that provided by isolated current cash flows for the prediction of future cash flows. Using a sample of 4,397 Spanish companies (mostly privately held), we estimate in-sample regressions of future cash flows on isolated current cash flows and on accrual-based earnings. We then find that the out-of-sample prediction errors provided by the accrual-based earnings model are significantly lower than those obtained with the cash flows model. We also regress the decrease in prediction errors brought about by the addition of accruals on a set of firm-specific circumstances where accounting manipulation is expected. In all cases the decrease in prediction errors is significantly affected in the hypothesized direction.