والمدرجة في بورصة ناسداك خلال الفترة )2020-2024 NDX100أثر التكاليف اللزجة على جودة أرباح الشركات المدرجة في البورصة دراسة تطبيقية للشركات التكنولوجية في مؤشر

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the impact of cost stickiness on earnings quality under agency costs among technology companies included in the NDX100 Index and listed on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange during the period 2020–2024. To achieve this objective, the study adopted both the inductive and descriptive approaches. A purposive sample consisting of 41 technology companies included in the NDX100 Index was selected. Furthermore, the study employed the Anderson, Banker, and Janakiraman (ABJ) model to examine the sticky behavior of costs. The findings revealed that both the Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) and Selling, General, and Administrative (SG&A) expenses exhibited sticky cost behavior. The results also indicated a statistically significant effect of COGS stickiness and SG&A cost stickiness on earnings management under agency costs. However, no significant effect was found for COGS stickiness or SG&A cost stickiness on earnings persistence or earnings predictability under agency costs. Based on these findings, the study recommends that financial and accounting management in companies strengthen internal control systems and adopt more transparent accounting policies to limit the exploitation of sticky cost behavior in earnings management practices. Such measures would contribute to improving the quality of financial reporting and enhancing investors’ confidence. The study also recommends that corporate management and boards of directors focus on factors other than cost behavior when seeking to enhance earnings persistence and earnings predictability, such as accounting conservatism, improving investment efficiency, and developing governance and control systems, thereby contributing to the long-term improvement of earnings quality