Theearningsqualityoflistedcompaniesisanissueofpublicconcern.Thispaperconductsanin-depthandcomprehensiveanalysisofhowtomeasuretheearningsqualityoflistedcompaniesbyusingempiricalmethods.Theindicatorsofearningsqualityusedinthispaperincludenotonlycashflowbutalsoindicatorsthataffectthegrowthoffutureearnings.Wefindthat,firstly,inourstockreturnregressions,bothspecificandcompositeindicatorsofearningsqualityhaveincrementalexplanatorypowerforstockreturnsaftercontrollingforearningspershare,changesinearningspershare,andfirmsize.Secondly,inourfutureearningsregressions,bothspecificandcompositeindicatorsofearningsqualityhaveincrementalexplanatorypowerforfutureearningsaftercontrollingforearningspershare,changesinearningspershare,andfirmsize.Thirdly,listedcompanieswithlower(higher)earningsqualityhavepoorer(better)earningsperformanceinfutureyears.
