First, to ensure the validity of the measure of accruals quality (AQ_DD), we have classified the sample by AQ_DD quintiles. Next,
for each quintile
we have regressed current cash flows on lagged cash flows and net income, controlling
accruals, TAC, are calculated as the difference between income before extraordinary items
(COMPUSTAT #123) and operating cash flows (COMPUSTAT #308), net of cash flows
from extraordinary items (COMPUSTAT #124) scaled by lagged total assets (COMPUSTAT
#6). Total accruals are scaled by total assets to control for firm size effect. In fact, ‘‘total
accruals are assumed to represent discretionary accruals, or earnings management. Similar
to the accrual measure in Bharath et al. (2007) and Hribar and Collins (2002), actual total