본 연구는 공정공시를 통해 보고된 경영자 예측정보의 정확성을 재무분석가의 예측정보와 비교하고, 경영자 예측정보의 정확성을 결정짓는 기업특성요인 및 예측정보의 제 특성을 분석한다. 공정공시제도가 도입된 2002년 11월 이후 2007년 말까지 영업실적에 대한 전망을 보고한 상장기업을 대상으로 분석한 결과, 경영자 예측정보는 재무분석가 예측정보에 비해 이익항목에서 높은 예측정확성이 나타났다. 또한 예측기간(forecast horizon)이 짧을수록, 재무분석가 예측정보에 비해 비관적인 성향을 가질수록 정확성이 높은 것으로 나타났다. 이는 경영자가 가진 내부정보의 우위가 매출예측보다는 이익예측에, 장기예측보다는 단기예측에 효과적임을 의미하며, 시장 기대치에 비해 보수적인 예측치를 보고할수록 예측정확성이 제고됨을 의미한다. 논문접수: 2008. 5 게재확정: 2009. 1 * 첫 번째 저자는 고려대학교 특별연구비의 지원을 받아 본 연구를 수행하였다. ** 고려대학교 경영대학 교수 Professor, Business School, Korea University (E-mail: sykwon@korea.ac.kr) *** 고려대학교 박사과정 Ph. D. Student, Business School, Korea University (E-mail: lyys77@korea.ac.kr) **** 고려대학교 박사과정 Ph. D. Student, Business School, Korea University (E-mail: msabi@korea.ac.kr) 한편 경영자 예측정보의 정확성 결정요인을 분석한 결과에서는, 기업규모가 크고 부채비율이 낮을수록, 수익성과 이익성장성이 높을수록, 매출의 변동성은 낮을수록 예측정보의 정확성이 높아지며, 공시정보의 예측기간이 짧고 공시되는 예측항목 수가 많을수록, 언론이나 자사 홈페이지를 통한 정보보다는 기업설명회나 컨퍼런스 콜을 통한 정보일수록, 재무분석가 예측정보와의 예측차이가 작을수록 예측정보의 정확성이 높아지는 것으로 나타났다. 본 논문은 국내에서 비교적 활발치 않은 경영자 예측정보에 대하여 연구를 수행하였다는 점에서 그 의의가 있다. 더욱이 관련 선행연구와 비교하여 공정공시 이후로 분석대상을 확대한 점과 정보의 원천 및 재무분석가의 예측정보와의 관련성을 고려하였다는 점에서 본 연구의 공헌점이 있는 것으로 판단된다.
This study examines the accuracy of management earnings forecasts after Regulation Fair Disclosure is adopted in 2002. We make comparisons of accuracy between management forecasts and analyst forecasts, and investigate what determines the accuracy of management forecasts for the firms listed on Korean Stock Exchange for the period of 2002 November to 2007. For the comparison of the accuracy of management forecasts with analysts forecasts, we first find that management forecasts tend to be optimistically biased given that 68% of management forecasts turn out to be greater than actual earnings. Second, management earnings forecasts is more accurate than analyst earnings forecast in general, while management sales forecast is no more accurate than analyst sales forecast. This suggests that managers have inside information such as cost structure, capital budgeting and execution of strategies so that they can better predict earnings than outside financial analysts. Third, management forecasts with short forecast horizon are more accurate than those with long forecast horizon. This implies that the shorter forecast horizon, the more information advantage managers have as they get to know the realized operating performance in detail. This also indicates that in the early period of year, the operating environment is so uncertain that managers are not better than financial analysts in forecasting sales and earnings. Fourth, management forecast errors are larger (smaller) than analyst forecast errors when management forecasts are greater (less) than analyst forecasts. That is, management forecasts are less (more) accurate than analyst forecasts when managers are optimistic (pessimistic) about the future prospect. This is consistent with the explanation that managers are inherently optimistic so that they tend to look at the bright side and release pessimistic forecasts only if they are very likely. This results in the asymmetric accuracy of forecasts depending on whether management forecasts are optimistic or not. For the analysis of determinants of management forecast accuracy, we employ firm size, leverage, profitability, earnings growth, variability, volume of information, source of information, the discrepancy between management forecasts and analyst forecasts. The results show that the larger firm size is, the more accurate management forecasts are, while the accuracy of management forecasts decrease when firms are more leveraged, less profitable or have higher earnings variability. Related to the characteristics of forecast disclosures, the accuracy of management forecasts improves when forecast horizon is shorter, the number of forecast disclosures is larger, and/or management forecasts are less optimistic. In addition, the smaller discrepancy between management forecasts and analyst forecasts, the more accurate management forecasts are. Prior studies investigated the relative accuracy of management and analyst forecasts in Korea. Despite this effort, no consistent conclusions emerge because the studies were limited due to the small sample size. Attempting to resolve this conflicting evidence on the relative accuracy of management and analyst forecasts, we use a large set of management forecasts since Regulation Fair Disclosure was adopted and find the evidence on the relative accuracy of management forecasts to analyst forecasts. We also examined the determinants of accuracy in management forecasts. This provides insight into the question of why managers issue earnings forecasts, what factors investors take into account in understanding management forecasts.