Abstract

Prior research (Taylor & Xu, 2012) finds that firms that attempt to increase EPS to meet analyst forecasts through
stock repurchases give up the opportunity to time their buybacks to benefit from temporary undervaluation of
their stock as is the case for firms that repurchase stock for other purposes. The current study explores a possible
explanation for the costly behavior by investigating whether firms with constraints in their ability to inflate
accruals are more likely to use stock repurchases as a means to manage earnings. The research question is tested
using a logit regression model with quarterly data from 1992 to 2009, controlling for various previously
documented factors that affect stock repurchases and/or earnings management. The empirical test results are
consistent with the hypothesis that firms with lower accounting flexibility are more likely to manage earnings
through stock repurchases. The study contributes to the earnings management literature by documenting the
substitution effect of alternative means of earnings management.

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