Quality or quantity? The impact on the cost of equity capital

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the simultaneous impact of information quality and quantity on the cost of equity capital for Brazilian firms listed on the B3 from 2011 to 2021. We also assessed which of the two, quality or quantity, has a greater impact on the cost of equity capital. Accounting quality and information volume are key factors in determining a company's cost of equity capital. While several studies have explored the relationship between these variables, few have examined them simultaneously, and we were unable to find any that focused on these aspects in the Brazilian market. Our results suggest that companies should prioritize enhancing the quality of information they disclose to investors over simply disclosing more information. Standard setters have a rationale for providing additional guidance on improving information disclosure. A better informed market facilitates better decision-making and reduces information asymmetry. Our results contradict previous studies that have found a positive relationship between information quantity and the cost of equity capital, suggesting that future research on information volume must also consider the quality of that information. We used a sample of 1,347 firm-year observations and employed various methodologies to assess the levels of accounting quality and information volume. Our study controlled for firm size, leverage, market-to-book ratio, beta, growth, internationalization, and the impact of COVID-19 to enhance the robustness of our results. To ensure the validity of our findings, we conducted additional tests using alternative methods to measure quality and quantity, and the results were consistent with our original findings. We found that the quality of financial information impacts the cost of equity capital, whereas the volume does not. Our results underscore the importance of improving information quality and support regulatory requirements for more relevant and understandable disclosure.