Question

The CEO of Fly Corporation decides to change an accounting method at the end of the current year. The change results in reported profits increasing by 5%, but the company's cash flows are not changed. If capital markets are efficient, then what would happen to the company stock price? Justify your answer with logical arguments

Answer 1

Answer:

Fly Corporation

The stock price will not be affected by the accounting change.

Explanation:

This opinion is based on the assumption that the capital markets are efficient.  Therefore, the stock's market price will reflect all available and relevant information.  Since all the necessary information is already incorporated into the stock price, the CEO of Fly Corporation cannot beat the market by the change in accounting method, and the stock price will not be undervalued or overvalued.  Moreover, the change in accounting method only shifts the timing for reporting income.