INCOME SMOOTHING

Use of accounting methods to reduce net income reductions from one period to another. Companies employ this practice because investors in general are willing to pay a premium for stocks with stable and predictable earnings streams, as compared to stocks whose earnings fluctuate widely. Some examples of income smoothing include delaying revenue during a good year if the following year is anticipated to be a challenging one, or recognition of expenses in a difficult year if the performance is anticipated to improve in the future.