Accounting information quality and systematic risk on the brazilian stock market

Abstract

This study evaluated the association between accounting information quality and systematic risk on the Brazilian stock market based on a sample of 208 firms traded on B3 S/A Brasil, Bolsa, Balcão (1,675 observations) from 2010-2019. The systematic risk was measured with the beta coefficient, while accounting information quality was proxied by revenue predictability and earnings management by discretionary accruals. The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and least ordinary squares multiple regressions on panel data and quantile regressions. The results showed earnings management by discretionary accruals and low revenue predictability were positively associated with systematic risk. In other words, there is evidence that the lower the accounting information quality in Brazilian firms, the greater the market risk. Our findings not only enrich the debate on the role of accounting information quality in emerging markets such as Brazil, but may subsidize investors in their decision-making by showing how accounting information quality impacts corporate risk and point to how managers can reduce systematic risk and equity costs.