Simplifying Share-Based Payment Accounting: The Influence of FASB ASU No.2016-09 on Earnings and Cash Flow Volatility

Abstract

In this study, we examine the influence of the adoption of Accounting Standard Update (ASU) No. 2016-09, Compensation- Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvement to Employee Share-based Payment Accounting, on earnings and cash flow volatility for firms that issue share-based compensation to employees. Our findings indicate higher levels of earnings and cash flow volatility after the implementation of ASU 2016-09. We also find that firms that issue more share-based compensation experience lower levels of earnings and cash flow volatility after the standard update. This study provides evidence that the simplified accounting treatment of share-based compensation is associated with significant increases in earnings and cash flow volatility, and that this relationship becomes less pronounced for firms that issue more share-based compensation. The findings of this study should be useful to policy makers, regulators, practitioners, and investors evaluating firms that use share-based compensation.