Value Relevance of Unrealized Foreign Currency Translation: Gains and Losses

This study uses an equity valuation model to investigate the extent to which SFAS No. 52 unrealized foreign currency translation gains and losses are reflected in levels of equity security prices. Equity security price is used as the dependent variable in our selected model. Book value of equity (adjusted for the cumulative translation gain or loss), earnings, and cumulative translation gains and losses are used as independent variables. Our results indicate that, generally, translation gains and losses are valued, but losses have a greater impact than gains and the value seems to change over time in setting the levels of equity share prices of USbased MNCs. On a pooled basis, the results are clearly statistically significant, although the statistical significance of the results appears to vary with the annual time period examined. Our results are consistent with the SFAS No. 52 intention that these gains and losses be treated as unrealized as the net exposure is considered long-term in nature for foreign currency functional currency subsidiaries. Our results appear consistent with extant literature suggesting that unrealized foreign currency translation gains and losses are directly valued - although not dollar for dollar - in a manner similar to earnings (i.e., unrealized gains are associated with positive equity returns and unrealized losses are associated with negative equity returns).