Issues with Public Disclosure of Non-GAAP Financial Metrics

The use of non-Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (non-GAAP) metrics by firms has increased dramatically in recent years. However, the regulatory structure for ensuring these metrics do not cross the line from appropriate discretion by managers to misleading investors has not kept pace. The last major pronouncement from the SEC addressing the disclosure of non- GAAP metrics was several years ago and has only been supplemented with unofficial clarifications to deal with highly technical aspects of securities laws. This paper examines the widespread usage of non-GAAP metrics and why the current lack of regulation with regards to disclosure of these data in unofficial settings, such as social media, is a problem that regulators need to address for protection of the investing public.