Empirical research has addressed several issues related to management forecasts of earnings, including the motivations management may have to release forecasts voluntarily, bias in and accuracy of forecasts, and reactions to management forecasts. These issues are important to consider in order to interpret management forecasts properly. This article summarizes this body of research and concisely describes the findings. The discussion is intended to help analysts seeking to use the information in management forecasts in making their own assessments of a firm's future.