Proforma earnings statements can significantly impact stock prices. Research shows that when these statements are prominently displayed in the headline or first paragraph of a company's news release, they have a much stronger impact on stock prices than when reported elsewhere in the document. This is because these statements provide investors with a projection of the company's future earnings, which can influence their decision to buy or sell the company's stock.

Asked on the following spreadsheet:

resource preview

Ultimate Startup Pro Forma

How to effectively show the investment and reward opportunities of a new venture or project? Use our "Ultimate Startup Pro Forma" model to showcase a...

download
Download this spreadsheet

Download free version

Microsoft Excel Google Sheets
Not for commercial use

Or, start for free ⬇️

Download and customize this and hundreds of business spreadsheet templates for free

Voila! You can now download this spreadsheet

Download

spreadsheet Preview

View all chevron_right

Question was asked on:

In his article for Harvard Business Review, Baruch Lev – the Philip Bardes Professor of Accounting and Finance at the Stern School of Business in NYU, talks about proforma as one of the ways in which managers can impart useful information to investors. (For more like this, check out our book summary). Lev stresses that "research shows that proforma earnings statements prominently displayed in the headline or first paragraph of a company's news release have a much stronger impact on stock prices than proforma earnings reported elsewhere in the document."

Questions and answers

info icon

Some common misconceptions about proforma in business include the belief that it is not a legitimate or useful tool for financial forecasting. In reality, proforma can provide valuable insights into a company's financial future. Another misconception is that proforma is only used to manipulate financial results to present a more favorable picture to investors. While it can be misused in this way, it is not its primary purpose. Proforma is meant to provide a clear picture of a company's financial situation by excluding non-recurring events.

Investors can benefit from understanding proforma as it provides useful information about a company's financial performance. Proforma earnings statements, when prominently displayed in the headline or first paragraph of a company's news release, have a much stronger impact on stock prices. Therefore, understanding proforma can help investors make informed decisions about their investments.

View all questions
stars icon Ask another question