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Exploration intensity, analysts’ private information development and their forecast performance

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  • Xiaomeng Chen
  • Sue Wright
  • Hai Wu

Abstract

This study examines whether analysts in the extractive industries in Australia adjust their private information searching and processing in response to the complexity of information about a firm’s exploration and evaluation (E&E) activities. We find that both the proportion of private information in their forecasts and the accuracy of their forecasts increase with the intensity of E&E activities. Additional analyses reveal that this effect is more pronounced for firms with substantial E&E activities but limited production activities, and that analysts’ private information development activities are mainly related to the capitalized E&E expenditures. Our results provide guidance for both investors and future standard setters. They show that investors can benefit from analysts’ expertise in situations of high information asymmetry. They also provide evidence of the advantage of distinguishing successful from unsuccessful investments in resource exploration when accounting for E&E expenditures, which may inform future decisions about accounting for intangible assets.

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  • Xiaomeng Chen & Sue Wright & Hai Wu, 2018. "Exploration intensity, analysts’ private information development and their forecast performance," Accounting and Business Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 48(1), pages 77-107, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:acctbr:v:48:y:2018:i:1:p:77-107
    DOI: 10.1080/00014788.2016.1204216
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    2. Sidney J. Gray & Niclas Hellman & Mariya N. Ivanova, 2019. "Extractive Industries Reporting: A Review of Accounting Challenges and the Research Literature," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 55(1), pages 42-91, March.
    3. Corinne Cortese & Lee Moerman & Millicent Chang, 2022. "Is the extractive industries standard still fit for purpose?," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 62(2), pages 2807-2838, June.

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