• Management & Information Systems Review
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.71-97
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• 2009

In this study, I compare the ability of alternative accounting method for employee stock option to reflect firm value using the Ohlson's(1995) valuation model for 200 firms. The each methods, I compare are employee stock option expense recognition based on the K-GAAP disclosures, and asset recognition at the grant date based on the SFAS No. 123 Exposure Draft: Accounting for stock-based compensation. The model include: (1) a model that uses reported earnings, equity book value, and compensation expense based on the K-GAAP disclosures; (2) a model that uses pro-forma earnings, equity book value and adds a measure of the unrecognized asset arising form granting of employee stock options. Finding form estimating equations that the K-GAAP method for calculating compensation has no explanatory power, and the SFAS No.123 Draft Exposure method for arising asset and fair value compensation better captures than market's perception of the economic impact of stock options on firm values. However, the correlation of employee stock option compensation expense is positive. These results suggest that incentive benefits derived from employee stock option plans outweigh the cost associated with plan. In addition, I couldn't find evidence that company in KOSDAQ that have high growth potential benefit more from employee stock option plan compared to lager, more mature firm in SEC.