Accounting Comparability and the Accuracy of Peer-Based Valuation Models

Posted: 24 Jan 2013 Last revised: 22 Feb 2017

See all articles by Steven Young

Steven Young

Lancaster University - Department of Accounting and Finance

Yachang Zeng

Nanyang Business School, Nanyang Technological University

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: October 14, 2015

Abstract

We examine the link between enhanced accounting comparability and the valuation performance of pricing multiples. Using the warranted multiple method proposed by Bhojraj and Lee (2002), we demonstrate how enhanced accounting comparability leads to better peer-based valuation performance. Empirical tests using firms from 15 European Union (EU ) countries over the period 1997–2011 (with comparable peers selected from the entire cross-section of foreign firms) document significant improvement in valuation performance measured as pricing accuracy, the ability of value estimates to explain cross-sectional variation in observed price, and the ability of the pricing multiple to predict future market-to-book multiples. Findings for a series of identification tests suggest that enhanced valuation performance is the consequence of improvements in the degree of cross-border accounting comparability that occurred during the sample window, and that a significant fraction of the comparability gain operates through improved peer selection.

Keywords: Equity valuation, pricing multiples, warranted multiple, peer selection, international accounting convergence

JEL Classification: G14, G15, M41

Suggested Citation

Young, Steven and Zeng, Yachang, Accounting Comparability and the Accuracy of Peer-Based Valuation Models (October 14, 2015). Accounting Review, November 2015, Vol. 90, No. 6, pp. 2571-2601, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2206190 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2206190

Steven Young

Lancaster University - Department of Accounting and Finance ( email )

The Management School
Lancaster LA1 4YX
United Kingdom
+441 5245-94242 (Phone)
+441 5248-47321 (Fax)

Yachang Zeng (Contact Author)

Nanyang Business School, Nanyang Technological University ( email )

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