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Value relevance of alternative accounting performance measures: Australian evidence

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  • Ahsan Habib

Abstract

Purpose - The paper aims to examine the value relevance of alternative accounting performance measures in Australia. It also documents the relative and incremental value relevance of revenuevis‐à‐visearnings and the longitudinal changes in such value relevance. Finally, the impact of certain firm characteristics including firm life cycle on the value relevance of revenue and earnings information is investigated. Design/methodology/approach - The paper utilises data on Australian listed companies from 1992 to 2005 on the level of and changes in seven alternative accounting performance measures. Standard ordinary least square regression is conducted. Findings - Results reveal that: the coefficient estimates on all the performance measures are much higher for large firms compared to their small firm counterpart; the explanatory power of incremental revenue in explaining stock returns has declined significantly over the sample period; and life cycle analysis shows that the combined coefficients for both revenue and earnings are significant in the growth and maturity stages of the firm life cycle. Practical implications - When making equity valuation decisions investors consider firms' fundamentals as reflected in financial statements. However, which line item is more important for equity valuation is an important consideration. From a regulatory perspective, this stream of research is quite relevant because standard setters will have evidence from an investor viewpoint about whether certain line items, subtotals, and totals should be defined in standards and required to be displayed in financial statements. Originality/value - The paper adds to the existing capital market research in Australia by documenting differential persistence of alternative performance measures.

Suggested Citation

  • Ahsan Habib, 2010. "Value relevance of alternative accounting performance measures: Australian evidence," Accounting Research Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 23(2), pages 190-212, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:eme:arjpps:v:23:y:2010:i:2:p:190-212
    DOI: 10.1108/10309611011073269
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    Cited by:

    1. Habib, Ahsan & Hasan, Mostafa Monzur, 2019. "Corporate life cycle research in accounting, finance and corporate governance: A survey, and directions for future research," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 188-201.
    2. He Xiao, 2023. "Institutional investors' corporate site visits and corporate investment efficiency," International Review of Finance, International Review of Finance Ltd., vol. 23(2), pages 359-392, June.
    3. Radu-Dan TURCU & Mihaela TURTUREA, 2015. "Study Regarding Companies Performance Measurement Through Non-Financial Indicators – The Case Of Airline Industry," Network Intelligence Studies, Romanian Foundation for Business Intelligence, Editorial Department, issue 6, pages 117-122, December.
    4. Michele Bertoni & Bruno De Rosa & Paola Rossi, 2020. "Is "Operating Profit" Set in Stone? A Commentary on the New IASB's Exposure Draft "General Presentation and Disclosures"," MIC 2020: The 20th Management International Conference,, University of Primorska Press.
    5. Carmen- Alexandra BALTARIU, 2015. "The Current State Of Knowledge In The Value Relevance Research Field," SEA - Practical Application of Science, Romanian Foundation for Business Intelligence, Editorial Department, issue 7, pages 13-20, April.
    6. Francesca Magli & Alberto Nobolo & Matteo Ogliari, 2017. "Alternative Performance Measures and ESMA Guidelines: Improving Stakeholders’ Communication," International Journal of Business and Management, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 12(12), pages 1-15, November.
    7. Charles E. Hyde, 2018. "The Piotroski F†score: evidence from Australia," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 58(2), pages 423-444, June.
    8. Bilal Ahmed & Minhas Akbar & Tanazza Sabahat & Saqib Ali & Ammar Hussain & Ahsan Akbar & Xie Hongming, 2020. "Does Firm Life Cycle Impact Corporate Investment Efficiency?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-13, December.
    9. David R Gallagher & Peter A Gardner & Camille H Schmidt & Terry S Walter, 2014. "Quality investing in an Australian context," Australian Journal of Management, Australian School of Business, vol. 39(4), pages 615-643, November.

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