Economic value added: Some empirical EVAdence

Abstract

Like all corporate buzzwords, “economic value added” combines some truth with some chaff. This article presents recent empirical evidence that helps to sort them out. Long known as “residual income,” economic value added has been marketed successfully by consultancies in recent years as amanagement incentive tool. Stern Stewart & Co., has been particularly aggressive in trademarking their version EVA® and in making claims regarding its performance. Independent examination sug gests that some of these claims are overstated. While evidence confirms that managers respond to EVA incentives, there is no evidence thus far to support claims that EVA is more closely associated with equity returns or..