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Do Investors Care Who Did the Audit? Evidence from Form AP

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  • MARCUS M. DOXEY
  • JAMES G. LAWSON
  • THOMAS J. LOPEZ
  • QUINN T. SWANQUIST

Abstract

In early 2017, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) mandated the disclosure of audit participants, including the lead audit partner and other audit firms participating in the audit (“component auditors”). In this study, we examine whether investors use these disclosures in a way that influences their investment decisions, a primary goal of the PCAOB. Using trading volume, absolute abnormal returns, and bid–ask spreads, we find little evidence of a significant investor response following the disclosure of partner identity or component auditor participation in the first three years of the requirement. We also examine instances where these disclosures are most likely to be informative (e.g., partners associated with restatements or component auditors with PCAOB deficiencies) and find no significant investor response. Taken together, we find little evidence that capital markets respond to partner and component auditor identity in the United States.

Suggested Citation

  • Marcus M. Doxey & James G. Lawson & Thomas J. Lopez & Quinn T. Swanquist, 2021. "Do Investors Care Who Did the Audit? Evidence from Form AP," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 59(5), pages 1741-1782, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:joares:v:59:y:2021:i:5:p:1741-1782
    DOI: 10.1111/1475-679X.12392
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    Cited by:

    1. Christensen, Brant & Lei, Lijun (Gillian) & Shu, Sydney Qing & Thomas, Wayne, 2023. "Does audit regulation improve the underlying information used by managers? Evidence from PCAOB inspection access and management forecast accuracy," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 106(C).
    2. Bingyi Chen & Jenelle K. Conaway, 2022. "Do U.S. Investors Value Foreign Component Auditors?," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 60(3), pages 805-851, June.
    3. Elsayed, Mohamed & Elshandidy, Tamer & Ahmed, Yousry, 2023. "Is expanded auditor reporting meaningful? UK evidence," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 53(C).
    4. Elsayed, Mohamed & Elshandidy, Tamer & Ahmed, Yousry, 2022. "Corporate failure in the UK: An examination of corporate governance reforms," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    5. Yi-Hsing Liao & Hua Lee & Chao-Jung Chen, 2023. "The informational role of audit partner industry specialization," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 60(1), pages 69-109, January.
    6. Thomas Bourveau & Janja Brendel & Jordan Schoenfeld, 2024. "Decentralized Finance (DeFi) assurance: early evidence," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 29(3), pages 2209-2253, September.
    7. Abbott, Lawrence J. & Buslepp, William L., 2022. "An investigation of the market's pricing of auditor competence: Evidence from PwC's Oscars blunder," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    8. Kose John & Min (Shirley) Liu, 2021. "Does the Disclosure of an Audit Engagement Partner’s Name Improve the Audit Quality? A Difference-in-Difference Analysis," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-30, October.

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