2.2.1 Accounting information relevance.
A piece of accounting information becomes relevant when it changes user’s decision (Francis et al., 2006). Barth, Beaver and Landsman (2001) emphasize that only relevant and reliable information may be used for decision making and to influence market values. From the accounting and informational viewpoint, information relevance consists in the predictability of future cash flows (Lopes & Martins, 2012). By using market reaction to measure the influence of accounting statements to aid its users to predict companies’ future cash flows, accounting information relevance is closely related to the concept of quality of earnings (Scott, 2011).
Since accounting information relevance consists in the predictability of future outcomes (Lopes & Martins, 2012), Panaretou et al. (2013) show the accounting information relevance present in HA. Measuring the error dispersion of analysts’ forecasts for companies’ earnings, the authors argue that HA influences the predictability of companies’ outcomes, making them more predictable in companies that adopted HA. Also according to the authors, information coming from HA provide market analysts with greater accuracy in their analysis and forecasts.