The study aims to provide better understanding of sustainable earnings by a comprehensive analysis of earnings persistence of business firms in Vietnam as an example of developing economies in South-East Asia. Dataset of 1,278 publicly listed firms (excluding banking and financial services firms) on Vietnam Stock Exchange for the period from 2008 to 2017 was collected. By applying fixed effect regression model, the empirical results provided the basis to measure the persistence index (Pers index) and find low level of their earnings persistence. The literature of earnings quality analysis in developed countries suggests earnings persistence as a noteworthy determinant of future earnings forecast and stock valuation. However, research of sustainable earnings in developing countries is still highly underdeveloped. For Vietnamese listed firms, the average Pers index was estimated for the period from 2008 to 2010, indicating low level of earnings persistence. We also incorporated earnings persistence level into future earnings forecast by running the quintile regression model divided the data into four equal levels and conducted each section independently to see the difference in each percentile, thence assessed the factors’ influence on the specific model. The findings provide important information on the expected returns of firms, especially helping investors make sound decisions.

The paper examines the influence of profitability on distance to default (DD) in Vietnam securities market. The investigated sampl e consists of 211 companies listed on HOSE during 18 years from 2010 to 2017. We apply KMV model to calculate distance to d efault and use both macroeconomics factors and firm specific factors as independent variables. Using General Least Squared (GL S) method, we find evidence to confirm the positive relationship between profitability and distance to default. This result showed t hat, although profitability did not directly reflect the cash flow generated, a good profitable enterprise would be an important facto r to help facilitate and generate cash flow and at the same time debt was guaranteed when it was due. Besides, the test results rev ealed that the financial structure and sales on assets have the inverse effect on the distance to default at the significance level o f 5%. The results also revealed that a group of macro factors had an influence on the distance to default of businesses, including spre ad, GDP and trade balance (via exchange rates). Gross domestic income had certain impacts on the distance to default of businesse s. This was also a basic indicator measuring the national economic cycle.