Beneish M-Score: Detecting Earnings Manipulation

The Beneish M-Score is a statistical model developed by Messod Beneish in 1999 to identify whether a company has manipulated its reported earnings. The model combines eight financial-statement ratios into a single composite score using coefficients estimated from a probit regression on a sample of detected earnings manipulators. A score above −2.22 indicates a heightened probability of manipulation, making the M-Score a widely used tool in forensic accounting and investment due-diligence.