Valuation Relevance : The use of Information and Choice of Method in Equity Valuation

This thesis is concerned with exploring the equity market price discovery process, the translation and incorporation of new information into stock prices, by studying both what information is included in this process and which valuation methods are used to translate that information into a value. The overarching research question posed in this thesis is: How is equity valued? The overarching question is broad and has been divided into the following sub questions: What valuation methods do companies use when valuing takeover targets? What valuation methods do sell-side analysts use when valuing equity? What factors explain the variation in the use of valuation methods by sell-side analysts? To what extent do sell-side analysts utilize non-financial information in their reports? These questions are addressed in four separate essays. Findings of the thesis emphasized that valuation behavior is contextual to several specific circumstances. Findings showed that companies valuing takeover targets used sophisticated valuation methods to a higher extent than did sell-side analysts. Findings also showed systematic differences in the choice of valuation methods among sell-side analysts. With regards to the use of non-financial information and information on Intellectual Capital this thesis showed that the context of the target firm dictates which information is relevant for predicting future performance, and hence is used by analysts. Additionally, the accessibility of information is an important factor affecting what information is used in the valuation process. Understanding the valuation behavior of the different actors on the capital market is to understand the pricing process of the market, and as such the contribution of this thesis has been to shed more light on the cornerstone of market efficiency- the ability of market actors to identify and buy (sell) under priced (over priced) stocks

Valuation Relevance : The use of Information and Choice of Method in Equity Valuation

This thesis is concerned with exploring the equity market price discovery process, the translation and incorporation of new information into stock prices, by studying both what information is included in this process and which valuation methods are used to translate that information into a value. The overarching research question posed in this thesis is: How is equity valued? The overarching question is broad and has been divided into the following sub questions: What valuation methods do companies use when valuing takeover targets? What valuation methods do sell-side analysts use when valuing equity? What factors explain the variation in the use of valuation methods by sell-side analysts? To what extent do sell-side analysts utilize non-financial information in their reports? These questions are addressed in four separate essays. Findings of the thesis emphasized that valuation behavior is contextual to several specific circumstances. Findings showed that companies valuing takeover targets used sophisticated valuation methods to a higher extent than did sell-side analysts. Findings also showed systematic differences in the choice of valuation methods among sell-side analysts. With regards to the use of non-financial information and information on Intellectual Capital this thesis showed that the context of the target firm dictates which information is relevant for predicting future performance, and hence is used by analysts. Additionally, the accessibility of information is an important factor affecting what information is used in the valuation process. Understanding the valuation behavior of the different actors on the capital market is to understand the pricing process of the market, and as such the contribution of this thesis has been to shed more light on the cornerstone of market efficiency- the ability of market actors to identify and buy (sell) under priced (over priced) stocks

Financial and Sustainability Reporting: An Empirical Investigation of Their Relationship in the Italian Context

“Integrated reporting” has gained prominence during the last few years. Investors have required more information also about how sustainability issues and initiatives are expected to contribute to the long-term growth strategy of a business. This communication, which should be provided by top management, leads toward the convergence of sustainability and financial reporting into a single “narrative.” Both financial reporting and non-financial reporting together provide all stakeholders with a comprehensive view of the position and performance of a company. This process has also been encouraged by some European regulations. However, despite these, social and environmental information is still disclosed differently in consolidated annual reports and social–environmental reports. The present work focuses on such differences of content. The analysis regards both (mandatory) consolidated annual reports and (voluntary) stand-alone social–environmental reports prepared by Italian-listed corporate groups for two different accounting periods (both before and after the implementation of Directive 2003/51/EC). The final results show relevant and persistent differences in the disclosure of environmental and employee matters between financial and sustainability reporting

Value relevance of intangibles: A literature review

Value relevance can be defined as the association between accounting values and market values and it is one of the most important quality attributes of financial reporting. Recognizing, measuring, and reporting the intangible assets properly has become gradually more important due to the increasing importance of intangibles in the statement of financial position and the shift from a tangible-based economy to an intangible-based economy. Value relevance of intangibles examines how well accounting treatments of intangibles are related to stock market values and it is a controversial and heavily debated issue in the literature. Thus, the purpose of this study is to demonstrate how valuable intangibles and to provide useful information about the value relevance of intangibles by reviewing the most cited literature. For this purpose, the study investigates R&D expenditures, goodwill, patents, brands, and advertising expenditures by comparing the results of the studies. According to the results, while IFRS adoption is expected to provide more comparable and high-quality information, the overall value relevance of intangibles has generally declined after the IFRS. In addition, capitalizing the R&D expenditures seem to be more value relevant than the expensed portion. These results are also consistent with the other intangibles such as patents and brands. © Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021.2-s2.0-8509789079