the AFIT literature needs a more expansive view of earnings quality. To date, only earnings persistence and earnings growth have been used as measures of earning quality. However, earnings quality is not a single construct and the various proxies do not have similar consequences. As stated by Dechow et al. (2010), ‘‘ research should exploit the unique features of the earnings proxies to provide more compelling evidence that identifies the determinants and consequences of quality for a given research question.’’ Additional measures of earnings quality include accruals quality, smoothness of earnings, nearness to earnings targets, timeliness, and conservatism. Finally, the association between earnings quality and temporary timing differences needs further examination. Hanlon (2005) finds that temporary differences affect earnings persistence while Lev and Nissim (2004) report that they have no explanatory power for future earnings growth.