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The effect of internal control weakness on firm valuation: Evidence from SOX Section 404 disclosures

Author

Listed:
  • Li, Yingqi
  • Yu, Junli
  • Zhang, Zhou
  • Zheng, Steven Xiaofan

Abstract

We find that firms reporting internal control material weakness (ICW) under Section 404 of Sarbanes–Oxley Act (SOX) have 13% lower valuation than non-ICW firms based on Tobin's q. This valuation difference is mainly driven by stock underperformance of more than 13% during the year before ICW disclosure. The ICW firms that remedy the internal control weakness in the subsequent year have much better stock performance compared to those firms that fail to remedy existing ICW problems. We further show a better stock performance in the year before disclosure if a SOX 404 ICW firm has prior SOX 302 ICW disclosure more than one year earlier. All these results are consistent with the hypothesis that the equity market has incorporated the negative information associated with SOX 404 ICW reports before the actual disclosures are made.

Suggested Citation

  • Li, Yingqi & Yu, Junli & Zhang, Zhou & Zheng, Steven Xiaofan, 2016. "The effect of internal control weakness on firm valuation: Evidence from SOX Section 404 disclosures," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 17(C), pages 17-24.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:17:y:2016:i:c:p:17-24
    DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2016.01.001
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Mounia Boulhaga & Abdelfettah Bouri & Ahmed A. Elamer & Bassam A. Ibrahim, 2023. "Environmental, social and governance ratings and firm performance: The moderating role of internal control quality," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(1), pages 134-145, January.
    4. Jacoby, Gady & Li, Yingqi & Li, Tianze & Zheng, Steven Xiaofan, 2018. "Internal control weakness, investment and firm valuation," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 25(C), pages 165-171.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Sarbanes–Oxley Act; Internal control weakness; Firm valuation; SOX 404; Tobin's q; Benchmark adjusted returns;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates
    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading
    • G30 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - General

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