2.3 To smooth earnings toward a long-term sustainable trend
For many years it has been believed that a firm should attempt to reduce the volatility
in its earnings stream in order to maximize share price. Because a highly violate
earning pattern indicates risk, therefore the stock will lose value compared to others
with more stable earnings patterns. Consequently, firms have incentives to manage
earnings to help achieve a smooth and growing earnings stream (Ortega and
Grant, 2003).