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Does intellectual capital disclosure in analysts' reports vary by firm characteristics?

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  • Abhayawansa, Subhash
  • Guthrie, James

Abstract

In this paper, we explore how Australian sell-side financial analysts contribute to the supply of intellectual capital (IC) information in the capital market. Toward this end, we examine how types and semantic properties of IC disclosures in analyst reports vary by a number of firm-specific characteristics likely to be associated with voluntary corporate disclosure. Consistent with our expectations, we find that the uncertainty associated with forecasting firm's earnings and the IC intensity of the industry in which the firm operates are associated positively with the extent as well as several semantic properties of IC disclosure in analyst reports. Highlighting that IC disclosure in analyst reports is not always a function of the extent of IC disclosed by firm, we find a statistically significant but negative association between firm profitability and the extent and certain semantic properties of IC disclosure in analyst reports. Firm size was significantly and positively associated with only the extent of forward-looking IC disclosure. Of the three categories of IC, only relation capital disclosure varied with any of the explanatory variables. Our findings highlight the importance of analyst reports as an IC communication media that could complement corporate communications of IC not only for firms disclosing less IC information voluntarily but also for those firms known to disclose more.

Suggested Citation

  • Abhayawansa, Subhash & Guthrie, James, 2016. "Does intellectual capital disclosure in analysts' reports vary by firm characteristics?," Advances in accounting, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 26-38.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:advacc:v:35:y:2016:i:c:p:26-38
    DOI: 10.1016/j.adiac.2016.04.002
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    3. Filippo Vitolla & Nicola Raimo & Arcangelo Marrone & Michele Rubino, 2020. "The role of board of directors in intellectual capital disclosure after the advent of integrated reporting," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(5), pages 2188-2200, September.
    4. Elisa Menicucci & Guido Paolucci, 2021. "Forward-Looking Intellectual Capital Information in Integrated Reporting: An Empirical Analysis," International Journal of Business and Management, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 14(8), pages 167-167, July.
    5. Wan Nordin Wan-Hussin & Ameen Qasem & Norhani Aripin & Mohd Shazwan Mohd Ariffin, 2021. "Corporate Responsibility Disclosure, Information Environment and Analysts’ Recommendations: Evidence from Malaysia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-27, March.
    6. Valentina Beretta & Maria Chiara Demartini & Laura Lico & Sara Trucco, 2021. "A Tone Analysis of the Non-Financial Disclosure in the Automotive Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-16, February.

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