Do investors value audit quality of complex estimates?

Abstract

In recent years, Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) inspections have repeatedly reported audit deficiencies related to complex fair value measurements. Motivated by the PCAOB's concern, this paper investigates whether audit quality of fair value measurements has information value to investors. Using a sample of U.S. public banks during 2008–2019, I find a significantly positive (negative) association between stock prices (bid-ask spreads) and the perceived audit quality of fair value estimates. This finding is consistent with investors valuing audit quality as it enhances the reliability of—and reduces the uncertainty associated with—complex estimates. Furthermore, using the fair value hierarchy mandated by SFAS 157, Fair Value Measurement, I find the incremental valuation effect of the perceived audit quality is greater for the substantial estimation uncertainties and potential management bias inherent in Level 3 fair value assets. In addition, I find some evidence that an auditor's banking industry expertise plays a more significant role than Big 4 status in investors' perceptions of audit quality with respect to FVM. Additional cross-sectional results reveal that the documented effect is greater for banks with declining capital adequacy and for smaller banks. Collectively, my findings suggest that perceived audit quality is important to investors in assessing the informativeness of complex fair value measurements.