Forward-Looking Information and its Determinants: an Empirical Evidence from Listed Pharmaceutical Firms of Bangladesh

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to examine the factors that affect how forward-looking information is disclosed by Bangladeshi 's listed pharmaceutical firms. In this study, a total sample of 115 firms from 23 pharmaceutical firms listed on the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) is considered from the period of 2016 to 2020. Board size, board independence, gender diversity, firm size, leverage, liquidity, and profitability are used as the determinants of forward-looking information. According to the descriptive statistics, the average level of extent of forward-looking information is only 59.33%, which is inadequate for the pharmaceutical industry to survive in the long term. The multiple regression results show that the level of forward-looking information disclosure is positively and significantly associated with board size, firm size, and firm profitability. But the regression results documented that gender diversity, leverage and liquidity and board independence have no significant association with forward-looking information. The findings of this study suggest that companies should focus more on forward-looking information to survive in the market and pursue a competitive advantage. Moreover, the findings of this study also suggest that further research can be conducted using qualitative research in a different sector as well as a cross-country comparison.