In this article, we compare several candidate time-series models for the time-series of quarterly accounting earnings per share. One Box-Jenkins model dominates in terms of forecast accuracy. This model is a Box-Jenkins (1,0,0) x (0,1,1) model

Managerial behavior differs considerably when managers report quarterly profits versus losses. When they report profits, managers seek to just meet or slightly beat analyst estimates. When they report losses, managers do not attempt to meet or slightly beat analyst estimates. Instead, managers...

We investigate firms' propensity to meet analysts' forecasts of cash flows and earnings, and identify factors pertaining to market valuation, financial analysts, and firms' financial condition to explain why firms sometimes meet cash flow forecasts but miss earnings forecasts. Firms meet cash...

We examine interactions between analyst earnings forecasts and management earnings forecasts by investigating: (1) managers' comparative efficiency relative to analysts at incorporating past earnings changes, accruals, stock returns and analyst-based earnings surprises into their earnings...

Users of I/B/E/S data generally act as if I/B/E/S reported actual earnings represent the earnings analysts were forecasting when they issued their earnings estimates. For example, when assessing analyst forecast accuracy, users of I/B/E/S data compare analysts' forecasts of EPS with I/B/E/S...