Disclosure versus recognition: the value relevance of pensions

Abstract

This paper compares how pension obligations impact the market value of United States corporations under two accounting regimes. Using a sample of firms that disclosed pension liabilities under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 87 from 2001 to 2005 and recognized them under SFAS No. 158 from 2006 to 2014, I find that equity market participants take into account the net position of the pension fund only if it is recognized on the sponsor's balance sheet, thus mispricing the pension deficit/surplus under the disclosure regime. I also provide evidence suggesting that investors' perception of pension deficits/surpluses changed with the introduction of SFAS No. 158 in 2006.