Value Relevance Of Earnings Research Articles

ESG Risks and the Value Relevance of Current and Historical Earnings

AbstractWe investigate whether independent, third‐party assessments of firms’ Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) risk exposures provide forward‐looking information content to capital market participants by evaluating whether these ESG risks have a moderating effect on the ability of earnings and the book values of equity to predict investors’ expectations of the present value of future cash flows. We find that firms’ higher ESG risk exposure increases the association between current earnings and firm values, while decreasing the relevance of book values of equity (i.e., historical earnings). We find that this effect is strongest for firms with the highest levels of risk exposure and following large changes to ESG risk exposures. In additional analyses, we disaggregate ESG risk exposure and while we find that each component of ESG has predictive power consistent with the main findings, governance risks dominant the results in head to head specifications. Taken together, our findings suggest that governance risk exposures provide forward‐looking information content to investors when they evaluate the ability of current earnings to predict future cash flows. Our results are robust to several measures of ESG risk exposure, entropy balancing specifications, and exogenous shocks to ESG attention following global environmental and social justice initiatives.

Value Relevance of Accounting Information and Noise Trading in Banks and Financial Institutions

This study aimed to analyze the financial accounting information's relative and incremental value relevance between 2012 and 2019. It also analyzed the relationship between noise trading and the value relevance of financial accounting information using 564 firm-year observations on banks and financial institutions in the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) from 2012 to 2019. The price valuation model prepared by Ohlson [1] was used to test the value relevance of accounting information. The findings showed the relative and incremental value relevance of earnings and book value during the study. Furthermore, noise trading has a moderating effect on the earnings' value relevance. The samples used were from the financial sector to compare value relevance from previous literature on manufacturing companies. The results could be useful to current and potential investors while considering investing in the financial sector.

Comparative Value Relevance of Main Accounting Figures in France and the United Kingdom

Abstract The value relevance of financial reports has been the preoccupation of researchers and regulators during the last three decades. Therefore, this study is an attempt to reinvestigate the comparative value relevance of the main accounting figures (equity book value, earning, and cash flow) in two prominent economic and accounting models in the world, France and the UK. Using 115 French companies and 100 UK companies over the period 2011-2019, and relying on Ohlsonʼs model, the results indicated that equity book value and earnings are value-relevant in two countries, but cash flow has no value relevance. In France, the equity book value has low-value relevance versus a high-value relevance of earnings. However, in the UK, equity book value and earnings have close levels of value relevance. Although the differences between French and UK companies in terms of relative value relevance of equity book value and earnings, they have very close common value relevance.

The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on earnings management and the value relevance of earnings: US evidence

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine whether the COVID-19 pandemic has affected earnings management and the value relevance of earnings in the USA.Design/methodology/approachDiscretionary accruals, the explanatory power and slope coefficient of earnings are compared between 2019 (prepandemic year) and 2020 (pandemic year). Univariate and regression analyses are performed.FindingsThere was a significant decline in discretionary accruals from 2019 to 2020, suggesting that firms engaged in more income-decreasing earnings management to take a big bath in reporting earnings in the pandemic year. Meanwhile, the explanatory power and slope coefficient of earnings both were lower in 2020 than in 2019, consistent with the notion that the pandemic has impaired the value relevance of earnings.Originality/valueThis study explores the consequences of the pandemic from accounting perspective. It also enriches accounting research on economic crises.

Derivative on the value relevance through tax avoidance and earnings control

This investigation expects to inspect and analyze the effect of derivative transactions on earnings management, the role of corporate tax avoidance in moderating effect of derivative transactions on earnings management, the effect of earnings management worth pertinence of earnings, and the effect of derivative transactions Worth Pertinence of earnings. This examination utilizes information from non-monetary organizations in Indonesia and Thailand for the period 2013-2017 with 91 test of organizations. This investigation, earnings management is calculated based on the Jaggi model and the Jaggi changed model. The value relevance of earnings is calculated based on Ohlson's model. Corporate tax avoidance is calculated based on the book tax difference. The results show that subordinate exchanges have a constructive outcome on earnings management. Corporate tax avoidance has not been proven to strengthen the effect of derivative transactions on earnings management. Earnings management adversely influences the worth pertinence of earnings. Derivative transactions negatively affect the value relevance of earnings. Derivative transactions, especially those with non-hedging criteria, show a high tendency towards earnings management activities. Intercountry testing, derivative transactions have a positive effect on earnings management in Indonesia while in Thailand it does not.

Examination of the convergence route to IFRS reporting and disclosure

Value relevance (VR) of earnings and book value of equity is studied in a setting where the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) have been adopted through a convergence and customization route. Quantile regression methodology is applied to level and return models. We find no significant increase in VR of earnings or book equity. Smaller firms show some sensitivity to the change in the regime as compared to the largest set of firms, though accounting metrics overall, help explain the value of larger firms better. We conclude that the convergence route leads to continuous, incremental benefits over the pre-adoption period which pre-empts any significant increase in VR upon IFRS adoption. Gradual convergence with IFRS supported by positive, investor-friendly changes (Roca, 2021) to existing institutional and regulatory frameworks over time, results in better adoption and early, continuous capture of value, though the process itself is long drawn out. More research is needed to test the relevance of alternate metrics in the current technology and intangibles-driven economies (Barth, Li, & McClure, 2021). India’s unique approach to IFRS adoption may hold lessons for all IFRS adopters across the world while responding to new/revised standards in the future. This is the first comprehensive study on the value relevance and information content of the Indian Accounting Standards (Ind AS)

Predictive view of the value relevance of earnings in India

PurposeThis study aims to examine the value relevance of earnings in terms of predicting the value variables such as cash flow, capital investment (CI), dividend and stock return under the Indian institutional settings.Design/methodology/approachThe study used panel Granger causality tests to examine causality relationships among variables and panel data regression models to check the statistical associations between earnings and value variables.FindingsBased on a data set of 7,280 Bombay Stock Exchange-listed firm-years spanning over ten years from March 2009 to March 2018, the results show higher sensitivity of earnings toward cash flows, CI, divided and stock return and vice-versa. Further, the findings deduced from the empirical results demonstrate that earnings are positively related to value variables. Overall, the results established that earnings are value-relevant and have predictive ability to forecast the value variables that facilitate investors in portfolio valuation. The results are consistent with the predictive view of the value relevance of earnings. Several robustness checks confirm these results.Originality/valueThis study brings new empirical evidence from a distinct capital market, India, and provides a new facet to the value relevance debate in terms of its prediction view. The study is among earlier attempts that jointly measure the ability of earnings in forecasting different value variables by taking a uniform sample of firms at the same period. Hence, the study provides a comprehensive view of the predictive ability of reported earnings.

The Value Relevance of Earnings in the Presence of Earnings Management: Indonesia as Evidence

This study examines the influence of earnings management on the value relevance of earnings, that is, the value relevance of level and changes of earnings. The sample consists of manufacturing companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX), comprising 606 observations. By using panel data regression, this study provides evidence that the level of earnings has no value relevance; conversely, changes in earnings have value relevance, indicating that earnings have less value relevance. Furthermore, the results of the relevance test of earnings value with the presence of earnings management show that the relevance of the value of the earnings level increases with the presence of earnings management; on the contrary, the relevance of earnings changes decreases with the presence of earnings management. Based on the value of earnings response coefficient, the impact of earnings management on the value relevance of level and changes of earnings appears to indicate that earnings management reduces the value relevance of earnings.

The Value Relevance of Earnings, Book Values, and Other Accounting Information and the Role of Economic Conditions in Value Relevance: A Literature Review*

ABSTRACTThe value relevance research in accounting offers robust analyses about how the market views accounting information. Although significant work has been done to date in this mature research area, the literature does not fully explain or agree upon the changes in value relevance over time, and the impact of economic conditions on the value relevance of accounting information is a relatively understudied research stream. We review three streams of the value relevance literature: (i) the value relevance of earnings and book values, (ii) the value relevance of other accounting information, and (iii) the role of economic conditions on the value relevance of accounting information. Further, we review the various explanations put forth in the literature to try to explain the variation in value relevance over time. Finally, we provide a limited baseline for the current state of scholarly work and offer insight for future value relevance research.

Earnings Decomposition, Value Relevance and Predictability

Compared with net earnings, the components of earnings are more informative in companies whose components have different qualities of persistence and volatility. We examine the issue of whether net earnings together with their components have more information content than only net earnings. We construct a model to describe the effect of components volatility and their persistence through disaggregation of earnings value relevance and predictability. The analyses in our study are based on 600 firm-year observations in Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE) for the period 2005- 2019. Data are derived from RAHAVARD NOVIN Iranian software and firms' financial statements. The statistical tests for data analyses are the difference of means test (t-test) and regression analyses. The results of the current study indicate that as the persistence and volatility of selected components of earnings (sales, employee expenses, other selling, general and administrative expenses, and income taxes) increase, earnings disaggregation can improve earnings predictability. Furthermore, when the volatility of employee expenses increases, disaggregated earnings can improve earnings value relevance. As the value relevance of net earnings has been declined over the past decades, the results of the current study suggest that earnings disaggregation plays a major role in improving earnings value relevance and their predictability.

Valuation of short-lived firms following waves of new listings

PurposeThe survival rate of newly listed firms is low, and there is evidence of a surge of poorly performing new listed firms leading up to the crash of the dot.com bubble. The author investigates this phenomenon and analyzes investors' ability to understand the quality of accounting information and to adjust their expectations.Design/methodology/approachThe author employs the dividend discount model in conjunction with clean surplus accounting discussed by Ohlson (1995) to compare the value relevance of earnings and research and development (R&D) expenditures for short and longer listed National Association of Security Dealer Automated Quotations (NASDAQ) firms between 1980 and 2014. The author also uses univariate tests and logistic regression to analyze both recently listed and short-listed firms. In this analysis, the author compares the differences in investors' expectations for the first five years for both types of firms.FindingsThe author provides convincing evidence that markets clearly placed lower valuation weights on accounting earnings and R&D expenditures for short-listed firms on NASDAQ. Market participants originally had high expectations for these ventures. But, they gradually understood the lower quality of accounting information and adjusted their expectations downward.Originality/valueThe author’s results show that optimistic expectations along with easy equity financing created a surge of new listings. My analysis of the interplay between the quality of accounting information and investors' expectations indicates a negative spillover effect where investors are overoptimistic about firms that rode on waves of new listings backed by liberal financing. The author shows that analysis of Tobin's Q and negative earnings can separate ill-prepared from longer-listed firms.

The Effect of Derivative Transactions on the Value Relevance of Earnings through Corporate Earnings Management in Indonesia

This study aims to examine and analyze the effect of derivative transactions on earnings management, the effect of earnings management on value relevance of earnings, and the effect of derivative transactions on value relevance of earnings. This study uses data from non-financial companies in Indonesia for the period 2013-2017 with 43 sample of companies. In this study, earnings management is calculated based on the Jaggi model. The value relevance of earnings is calculated based on Ohlson's model. The results show that derivative transactions have a positive effect on earnings management. Earnings management negatively affects the value relevance of earnings. Derivative transactions are not proven to have a negative effect on the value relevance of earnings. Derivative transactions, especially those with non-hedging criteria, show a high tendency towards earnings management activities. Derivative transactions have a positive effect on earnings management. With the negative influence of derivative transactions and earnings management activities on the value relevance of earnings, the commissioner or audit committee needs to carry out an internal oversight function in reporting financial statements, especially in non-financial companies that carry out derivative transactions.

Governance role of media coverage: from the view of accounting information value relevance and market value about share pledge firms in China

PurposeShare pledge is a popular way to raise funds in China, but it aggravates information asymmetry. As an indispensable information intermediary in the financial market, media coverage affects asset price and pricing efficiency and impacts information asymmetry. This study aims to explore the governance role of media coverage as an information intermediary in the share pledge context in China.Design/methodology/approachModerating effect and mediating effect analyses are the primary methods used to test the governance role of media coverage. The ordinary least squares model was used to test the relationship between share pledge and market performance and then proved the moderating effect of media coverage toward the corporate market value of pledge firms. Accounting earnings value relevance models were explored to test the path of media coverage on firm market value by mediating effect analysis. At last, subgroup tests were used to verify the heterogeneity of the moderating effect of media coverage.FindingsIn the context of share pledge in China, the higher the share pledge ratio, the higher is the market value of listed firms, which verifies the motivation of controlling shareholders to avoid the transfer of control right and the motivation to tunneling. Media coverage has a significant negative moderating effect on the relationship between share pledge rate and corporate value and has a significant impact on the accounting earnings value relevance of share pledge firms. From the perspective of long-term earnings, media coverage reduces the market performance of share pledge firms by reducing the value correlation of accounting earnings information. From the short-term price point of view, media coverage reduces the market performance of share pledge firms by improving the value correlation of accounting earnings information. Furthermore, media coverage has a more significant moderating effect in state-owned share pledge firms and low information transparency and low information disclosure quality firms.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper does not distinguish the mode difference of spreading news and the impact of non-pledge media coverage. Also, this paper does not consider factors other than accounting information value relevance when exploring how media coverage affects the corporate market value. Share pledge firms should use media for publicity and play a role in media governance and should actively improve their information disclosure quality, strengthen communication with investors and reduce information asymmetry fundamentally.Practical implicationsThis paper diversify the governance choices for share pledge firms and has important implications for firms, investors, information intermediaries and regulators. Media reports play an increasingly important role today, and any reports and predictions of major events may profoundly affect investors’ decisions. Although media reports can make up for the weakness of accounting information disclosure of equity pledge companies in some sense, it is still not a long-term strategy. Equity pledge companies should not only make use of media for publicity and play a role of media governance but also actively improve their information disclosure quality.Originality/valueThis paper focuses on share pledge firms to carry out in-depth research. Based on exploring the influence mechanism of share pledges, the authors find the importance of media governance. This paper expands the literature about the economic consequences of share pledges and provides empirical data for media governance of share pledge firms. This paper innovatively proves the governance role of media coverage from the view of accounting information value relevance. The main innovation point is the long and short-term perspective analysis of the influence of media coverage on the correlation of accounting earnings value. The heterogeneity effect analysis of media coverage also reflects the depth and strong practical guiding significance of this study.

Value relevance of accounting information during IFRS convergence period: comparative evidence between India and Indonesia

PurposeThis study aims to examine the financial reporting quality during the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) enforcement period in the emerging markets of India and Indonesia by using Ohlson’s (1995) valuation model. The study further endeavors to compare the quality of the reporting environment and its impact on stock prices for both these emerging economies by using a price model during the IFRS conversion period.Design/methodology/approachThis paper aspires to obtain insights about the value relevance of accounting information during the IFRS enforcement period for India and its Southeast Asian neighbor, Indonesia which is identical in terms of inclusive growth and development. In that context, 3,325 Indian (National Stock Exchange indexed) and 815 Indonesian (Indonesian stock exchange indexed) firm-year observations were examined by using Ohlson’s price valuation model for five years, representing the IFRS adherence period.FindingsThe findings of the paper insinuated that the value relevance of book values and earnings, both, have increased throughout the IFRS enforcement period for both economies. However, the investigation revealed that the incremental interpretive power of earnings is more substantial and evident during the IFRS adherence phase than book values which indicates investor’s inclination toward earnings management over book values.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings may assist the regulators, investors, firms and standard setters of both economies in examining the effectiveness of financial reporting curriculums as it brings forth informational improvement in the financial market. This study also outstretches the discussion on the subject in other emerging nations where the market is imperfect with insufficient information, poor enforcement and limited regulations. This investigation has few limitations such as limited data and period, only two emerging economies and two control variables, thus provide scope for future research.Social implicationsThis paper endeavors to investigate and compare the value relevance of accounting information during IFRS convergence period between India and Indonesia with an aim to assist in improved decision making for both, regulatory bodies and market participants in both the countries.Originality/valueThe key contribution of the study is to examine whether the accounting information is value relevant during the IFRS convergence period for the two fastest-growing economies in Asia, India and Indonesia and it is the first such empirical research to the best of the author’s knowledge. The study is an extended contribution to the modest research administered in developing nations.

Value relevance of earnings and book values during IFRS convergence period in India

PurposeThe authors aim to examine the association between earnings and book values with stock prices in India during the IFRS convergence period because, in India, the literature is yet to investigate more about IFRS convergence and its impact on the financial reporting environment. Hence, the purpose of this study is to assess the influence of IFRS conversion on the value relevance of accounting information throughout the IFRS conversion period.Design/methodology/approachThe current paper endeavors to investigate the earnings and book values affiliation with stock prices in India during the IFRS convergence period by employing a price valuation model (Ohlson’s Model). The study assembled a total of 3,440 firm-year observations from the National Stock Exchange in India over five years, which signifies the IFRS conversion period (2015–2019).FindingsThe research findings displayed that accounting information such as earnings, book value has value relevance throughout the IFRS enforcement period; however, the value relevance has been increasing for earnings and showing a descending association for book value. The significant explanatory power of earnings reveals that market participants give more weightage to earnings than book values. Overall, the findings of the study will facilitate improved decision making for both, capital market participants and regulators, by highlighting the key areas for improvement in the Indian capital market.Research limitations/implicationsThis study also extends a discussion on the subject in those economies where regulations are weak and the market is imperfect with asymmetrical information.Practical implicationsThe research outcome provides for empirical shreds of evidence regarding the value relevance of accounting information during IFRS enforcement in India, where IFRS is a recent emergence.Social implicationsThis paper examines the value relevance of accounting information during IFRS convergence period in India which will felicitate improved decision making for both, market regulators and investors.Originality/valueThis research is the first factual documentation regarding value relevance of earnings and book value during the IFRS enforcement process in India with the most recent data and contributes to the limited study conducted in developing nations like India.

Fair value accounting impact on decision-usefulness of accounting information: evidence from accounting standards update 2016–01 on the US insurance industry

Purpose The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of ASU 2016–01 on the predictive value, the confirmatory value and the value relevance of earnings. One of the key provisions of ASU 2016–01 is the requirement that all changes in unrealized gains and losses on all equity securities are recognized in income instead of other comprehensive income (OCI) as under prior guidance (SFAS 115). Because many companies in the insurance industry are large holders of equity securities, the sample for this study consists of firms from the insurance industry. Design/methodology/approach The author compares the change in earnings volatility and analysts’ forecast error for the periods before and after adoption of ASU 2016–01, and the relationship between the percentages of assets invested in equity securities for both earnings volatility and analysts’ forecast error. Further, the author tests the price reaction at the time of the release of earnings using an event study. The author also tests the value reliance of earnings measured by the correlation of earnings and stock prices, as well as the change in earnings and stock returns. The association between investment gain/loss components of earnings, and OCI, with stock prices and returns is tested for value relevance. Findings The findings of this study show that earnings volatility and analysts’ forecast errors increased in the period after adopting ASU 2016–01 and an initial overreaction to earnings releases. Further, the investment gain/loss components of earnings and OCI are not value-relevant in this study and including unrealized gains/losses on equity securities in income decreased value relevance of earnings in the post-adoption period, particularly for firms with large equity investment portfolios. Research limitations/implications This study is limited to one industry and only represents the impact of ASU 2016–01 on that industry. Thus, there are opportunities to extend the research to other industries. Furthermore, the time-period of study since adopting ASU 2016–01 is limited to only two years and with the passage of time, a greater sample of post-ASU 2016–01 will be available for testing. Practical implications Standard setters considering recognizing fair value changes on all investment securities in income should consider the findings of this study. Further, industry participants affected by ASU 2016–01 should consider improving explanation of earnings to mitigate the initial misunderstanding of earning announcements found in this study. Originality/value To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first study on the effects of ASU 2016–01 on volatility of earnings, earnings forecast errors, market reactions to earnings releases and the value relevance of earnings. This paper fills a gap in prior research by studying the effects of fair value on reported earnings, which is limited in prior research. This study contributes to the growing field of research on fair value accounting.

The effect of female presence on corporate boards of directors on the value relevance of accounting amounts: empirical evidence from the European Union

AbstractThis paper investigates the ability of female presence to affect value relevance. Focusing on a sample of 487 entities listed in 18 European countries over the period 2009–2017, it uses a price model to assess the ability of female presence to affect the value relevance of earnings and book value disclosed in the consolidated annual reports of the firms analyzed. Findings offer evidence that female presence on corporate boards increases the value relevance of accounting amounts, providing insights that board composition affects investors’ judgments. Taking into account that in the literature scholars have shown that female presence is associated with market prices, this paper provides a contribution, showing its ability to affect the value relevance of earnings and book value of equity. The research findings suggest that not only the quality of accounting standards but also other factors such as female presence on the corporate board of directors affect accounting practices and, in turn, the quality of financial reporting and value relevance. Its findings offer an additional support to the European Union Gender Equality Strategy 2020–2025 according to which an increase in women's participation in the labor market has a strong, positive impact on the whole economy.

Discussion of: The State Expropriation Risk and the Pricing of Foreign Earnings

Discussion of: The State Expropriation Risk and the Pricing of Foreign Earnings

Do high-quality standards ensure higher accounting quality? A study in India

Purpose The study aims to investigate the impact of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)-converged standards (Indian Accounting Standards (INAS)) on the accounting quality of Indian firms. The phased manner approach of implementing INAS provides us a unique setting to investigate the issue in India. Design/methodology/approach The study used difference-in-difference (DiD) methodology, where the accounting quality is compared between test firms and benchmark firms during the pre-and post-INAS adoption period. Accounting quality is operationalized through four different constructs, namely, earnings smoothing, discretionary accruals, earnings timeliness and value relevance of earnings. Findings The findings deduced from the empirical results demonstrate that accounting quality has been significantly reduced after the adoption of INAS. In particular, results show that the degree of earnings smoothing, and the magnitude of discretionary accruals have been increased among test firms in the post-adoption year. Besides, findings provide evidence that timely recognition of losses and value relevance of earnings has been reduced for test firms relative to benchmark firms after the adoption of INAS. Practical implications The results suggest that the mere adoption of high-quality standards does not ensure higher accounting quality in countries with a weaker enforcement mechanism. Hence, stringent enforcement mechanisms are needed to ensure full compliance with accounting standards. This study serves as a case study for other emerging countries that are in the process of IFRS convergence and make them aware of the unintended consequences of IFRS adoption. Originality/value Indian authorities implemented INAS in a phased manner that provides a unique setting to use DiD methodology. DiD helps to control the impact of concurrent economic shocks, while examining the impact of the particular regulatory shock. Besides, this is the first attempt to investigate the impact of INAS on the accounting quality of Indian firms.

The Impact of International Financial Reporting Standards on Financial Reporting Quality: Evidence from Iraq

Prior studies provide mixed evidence on whether the transition to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) deters or contributes to greater financial reporting quality. Thus, this research investigates how the transition affects financial reporting quality. This study measures financial reporting quality by earnings management and the value relevance of earnings. Using a sample of listed firms on the Iraq Stock Exchange during 2015–2019, the current study indicates no significant relationship between the transition to IFRS and earnings management. Further, the transition to IFRS positively affects the value relevance of earnings. Thus, collectively, the impact of the transition to IFRS is conditional to the proxies of financial reporting quality. This study contributes to the existing literature by providing empirical evidence regarding the impact of IFRS on financial reporting in an under-studied emerging market. This paper has important implications for regulators, standard setters, listed firms, and other stockholders. It shows that the transition to IFRS has positive effects even in firms from developing countries.