The effect of macroeconomic uncertainties and firm-level determinants on analysts' earnings forecast accuracy

• Main Authors: Cheng, Alaine Christine N., Ibasco, Alvin S., Lin, Lauren Claire T.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2010
• Subjects: Business forecasting; Economic forecasting; Finance and Financial Management
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/18525
• Institution: De La Salle University

Analyst's forecast earnings are used by a number of individuals for investment decisions hence, the accuracy of these data is necessary. A number of factors affect the accuracy of these forecasts, such as macroeconomic uncertainties and firm-level determinants. The efficient market hypothesis shows the relationship of information to earnings forecast through price. That being said, information such as the determinants used, affect the accuracy of forecasted earnings. A sample size of 30 firms from Philippines and Malaysia that are listed under the industrial sector for a period of five years, from 2004 to 2008 was utilized. Furthermore, the different kinds of panel data, pooled OLS, fixed effects model, and random effects model were employed to check for the relationship between macroeconomic uncertainties and firm-level determinants on analysts' earnings forecast accuracy. Results show that volatilities in GDP growth, firm size, and financial leverage are statistically significant to earnings forecast error. Thus, this study concluded that these variables affect the accuracy of analysts earnings forecasts.