Value Relevance of International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) Based Accounting Information: Nigerian Stockbrokers’ Perception

Abstract

Value relevance of accounting information is a well-researched market-based accounting research apparently calling for more empirical evidence into the perception of information users in the stock market. Therefore, this study examined the perception of the Nigerian stockbrokers regarding value relevance of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) based accounting information. The research data were drawn from 121 purposively selected stockbrokers at the Nigerian stock exchange using a Likert scale survey questionnaire and based on the exploratory paradigm. Relative importance index measure showed that earnings, net assets and cash flows from investment ranked first separately as critical variables while operating income, the book value of equity and net cash flows at the year-end ranked least accounting data for each statement respectively. Evidence from statistical analyses using one way contingency Chi-square test revealed that sampled stockbrokers perceive IFRS disclosure demands present accounting information better than Nigerian Statement of Accounting Standards (SASs). Further tests into the stockbrokers’ perception on value relevance of IFRS based income statement, financial position and cash flows statements accounting information showed that all tested accounting data are statistically value relevant. The results imply that accounting disclosure demands/standards drive value relevance more under IFRS regime than under Nigerian SAS. Thus, beyond earnings and book value according to Ohlson price model, value relevance of other accounting data should be explored while other users’ perception regarding this course should be investigated and compared in future studies.