This paper investigates the relationship between institutional ownership and measures of firm performance. The empirical results support the hypothesis that earnings better reflect firm performance than realized cash flow as the institutional ownership is increased. Firms with greater institutional ownership could provide more accurate financial report so as to reduce the probability of manipulation of accruals. Earnings hence better reflect firm performance than realized cash flows because of including accruals adjustment in those firms. Empirical results infer the explanatory power of earnings is higher than realized cash flow as institutional ownership is increased.