Revisiting Agency and Signaling Theories: Evidence from Non-GAAP Measures, R&D Expenditures, and Firm Value in Southeast Asia

Authors

  • Hikmahwati Hikmahwati Accounting Department, Politeknik Negeri Banjarmasin
    Indonesia
  • Noor Romy Rahwani Accounting Department, Politeknik Negeri Banjarmasin
    Indonesia
  • Widya Ais Sahla Accounting Department, Politeknik Negeri Banjarmasin
    Indonesia
  • Angela Tan-Kantor Faculty of Business, Government and Law, University of Canberra
    Australia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.23917/reaksi.v11i2.17397

Keywords:

Non-GAAP disclosure, R&D expenditure, annual reporting transparency, firm value, Southeast Asia

Abstract

This research explores whether Non-GAAP disclosure and R&D expenditure contribute to firm value through financial reporting transparency in emerging markets in Southeast Asia. The study uses panel data from 29 publicly listed companies in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines during 2020–2024. Data were analyzed using the PLS-SEM method. The results indicate that Non-GAAP disclosure and R&D expenditure do not show a significant relationship with transparency or firm value. Financial reporting transparency also does not mediate these effects. These findings imply that the relevance of agency and signaling theories may vary depending on institutional settings and market conditions in emerging economies.

References

Aboelfotoh, A., Zamel, A. M., Abu-musa, A. A., Frendy, Sabry, S. H., & Moubarak, H. (2025). Does economic reform program affect financial reporting quality ? A Benford ’ s law perspective and evidence from Egypt. Journal of Financial Reporting and Accounting, Oktober 09(02), 0103. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFRA-02-2025-0103

Ahn, M., Christensen, T. E., Johnson, R. G., & Lewis-Western, M. F. (2025). The Future Performance Implications of Non-GAAP Firms ’ Investments The Future Performance Implications of Non-GAAP Firms ’ Investments. Journal of Accounting and Economics, 2(3), 101760. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacceco.2024.101760

Anagnostopoulou, S. C., & Tsekrekos, A. E. (2017). The effect of financial leverage on real and accrual-based earnings management. Accounting and Business Research, 47(2), 191–236. https://doi.org/10.1080/00014788.2016.1204217

Andronoudis, D., Tsalavoutas, I., & Tsoligkas, F. (2025). R&D Intensity, Development Costs’Capitalization Intensity and Stock Returns:A Variance Decomposition Analysis. European Accounting Review, 1–34. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5108640

Arena, C., Catuogno, S., & Moscariello, N. (2020). The unusual debate on non-GAAP reporting in the current standard practice. The lens of corporate governance. Journal of Management and Governance, 25(3), 655–684. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10997-020-09515-z

Azka, M., Pambudi, J. E., & Febrianto, H. G. (2025). Meningkatkan Nilai Perusahaan Dengan Transparansi: Efektifkah Regulasi Ojk? Jurnal Akuntansi STIE Muhammadiyah Palopo, 11(2), 184. https://doi.org/10.35906/jurakun.v11i2.2359

Ball, R., Robin, A., & Wu, J. S. (2003). Incentives versus standards: Properties of accounting income in four East Asian countries. Journal of Accounting and Economics, 36(1-3 SPEC. ISS.), 235–270. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacceco.2003.10.003

Bano, S., Asif, M., & Aamir, M. (2022). Exploring The Firm Level Transparency And Its Impact On Firm Value. Gomal University Journal of Research, 38(4), 437–447. https://doi.org/10.51380/gujr-38-04-05

Basgoze, P., & Sayin, H. C. (2013). The Effect of R&D Expenditure (Investments) on Firm Value: Case Of Istanbul Stock Exchange. Journal of Business Economics and Finance, 2(3), 5–12. https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/jbef/360484

Black, E. L., Christensen, T. E., Kiosse, P. V., & Steffen, T. D. (2015). Has the regulation of non-GAAP disclosures influenced managers’ use of aggressive earnings exclusions? Journal of Accounting, Auditing and Finance, 32(2), 209–240. https://doi.org/10.1177/0148558X15599131

Black, E. L., Christensen, T. E., Kiosse, P. V., & Steffen, T. D. (2017). Has the Regulation of Non-GAAP Disclosures Influenced Managers’ Use of Aggressive Earnings Exclusions? Journal of Accounting, Auditing & Finance, 32(2), 209–240. https://doi.org/10.1177/0148558X15599131

Brosnan, M., Duncan, K., Hasso, T., & Hollindale, J. (2023). Non-GAAP earnings and executive compensation: An experiment. In Accounting and Finance (online). https://doi.org/10.1111/acfi.13098

Brown, N. C., Huffman, A. A., & Cohen, S. (2023). Accounting Reporting Complexity and Non-GAAP Earnings Disclosure. Accounting Review, 98(6), 37–71. https://doi.org/10.2308/TAR-2018-0760

Capasso, M., Treibich, T., & Verspagen, B. (2015). The medium-term effect of R & D on firm growth. Small Business Economics, 45(February), 39–62. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-015-9640-6

Charumathi, B., & Ramesh, L. (2020). Impact of Voluntary Disclosure on Valuation of Firms: Evidence from Indian Companies. Vision: The Journal of Business Perspective, 24(2), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1177/0972262920914138

Chen, B., Houmes, R., & Wang, D. (2025). An empirical analysis of non-GAAP measures for high-litigation-risk industries. Advances in Accounting, 68(June), 100813. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adiac.2025.100813

Chen, H. C., Lee, Y. J., Lo, S. Y., & Yu, Y. (2021). Qualitative characteristics of non-GAAP disclosures and non-GAAP earnings quality. Journal of Accounting and Economics, 72(1), 101402. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacceco.2021.101402

Chen, H., Lee, Y., Lo, S., & Yu, Y. (2021). Qualitative characteristics of non-GAAP disclosures and non- GAAP earnings quality. Journal of Accounting and Economics, 27(1), 101402. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacceco.2021.101402

Chung, D. Y., Hrazdil, K., Novak, J., & Suwanyangyuan, N. (2019). Does the large amount of information in corporate disclosures hinder or enhance price discovery in the capital market? Journal of Contemporary Accounting and Economics, 15(1), 36–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcae.2018.12.001

Ciftci, M., & Cready, W. M. (2011). Scale effects of R&D as reflected in earnings and returns. Journal of Accounting and Economics, 52(1), 62–80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacceco.2011.02.003

Connelly, B. L., Certo, S. T., Reutzel, C. R., DesJardine, M. R., & Zhou, Y. S. (2025). Signaling Theory: State of the Theory and Its Future. Journal of Management, 51(1), 24–61. https://doi.org/10.1177/014920630503100101

Dinh, T., Kang, H., & Schultze, W. (2016). Capitalizing Research & Development: Signaling or Earnings Management? European Accounting Review, 25(2), 373–401. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638180.2015.1031149

Gantino, R., Ruswanti, E., & Widodo, A. M. (2023). Green Accounting And Intellectual Capital Effect On Firm Value Moderated By Business Strategy. Jurnal Akuntansi, 27(1), 38–61. https://doi.org/10.24912/jm.v27i1.1118

Guo, X. (2025). Governance effects of media coverage on firms ’ R & D activities under signalling theory : The moderating effect of economic policy uncertainty and the mediating role of financing constraints Usage Metrics  Export Metadata. OpenICPSR, 0–1. https://www.openicpsr.org/openicpsr/project/226481/version/V2/view

Hair, J. F., Hult, G. T. M., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2022). A Primer on Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). Sage Publishing. https://uk.sagepub.com/en-gb/eur/node/1562842/download.pdf

Houqe, M. N., van Zijl, T., Dunstan, K., & Karim, A. K. M. W. (2012). The Effect of IFRS Adoption and Investor Protection on Earnings Quality Around the World. International Journal of Accounting, 47(3), 333–355. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intacc.2012.07.003

Huang, D., Liu, B., Chan, K. C., & Chen, Y. (2023). Intended and unintended effects of mandatory R&D disclosure on innovation outcomes. Economic Modelling, 119(February), 106144. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econmod.2022.106144

Huang, S. X., Pereira, R., & Wang, C. (2022). Corporate Transparency and Externally Financed Firm Growth. Journal of International Accounting Research, 21(2), 57–81. https://doi.org/10.2308/JIAR-2021-070

Itan, I., Sylvia, S., Septiany, S., & Chen, R. (2025). The influence of environmental, social, and governance disclosure on market reaction: evidence from emerging markets. Discover Sustainability, 6(1), 347. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-025-01085-0

Jensen, M. C., & Meckling, W. H. (1996). Theory of the Firm: Managerial Behavior, Agency Costs and Ownership Structure. SSRN Electronic Journal, 103–167. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.94043

Kalantonis, P., Schoina, S., Missiakoulis, S., & Zopounidis, C. (2020). The impact of the disclosed r & d expenditure on the value relevance of the accounting information: Evidence from greek listed firms. Mathematics, 8(5), 730. https://doi.org/10.3390/MATH8050730

Khandelwal, V., Sharma, P., & Chotia, V. (2023). ESG Disclosure and Firm Performance: An Asset-Pricing Approach. Risks, 11(6). https://doi.org/10.3390/risks11060112

Kim, J., Yang, I., Yang, T., & Koveos, P. (2021). The Impact of R&D Intensity, Financial Constraints, and Dividend Payout Policy on Firm Value. Finance Research Letters, 40(May), 101802. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.frl.2020.101802

Krstić, B., Janjić, I., Jovanović, M., & Milanović, S. (2021). The Significance Of R & D Activities For Managing Intellectual Capital Of Enterprises. BH Economic Forum, 14(1), 117–130. https://doi.org/10.5937/bhekofor2101117k

Leuz, C., Nanda, D., & Wysocki, P. D. (2003). Earnings management and investor protection: An international comparison. Corporate Governance and Corporate Finance: A European Perspective, 69(03), 505–527. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203940136

Liu, Z., Zhou, J., Li, J., & Ma, X. (2024). More is less: The dual role of government subsidy in firms’ new product development. Journal of Business Research, 185(December), 114908. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2024.114908

Ma, H., Luo, Z., Zhou, N., & Meng, Y. (2025). Institutional investor distraction and corporate financial flexibility: evidence from China. Journal of Financial Reporting and Accounting, September(02), 0102. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFRA-02-2025-0102

Magli, F., Nobolo, A., & Ogliari, M. (2017). Alternative Performance Measures and ESMA Guidelines: Improving Stakeholders’ Communication. International Journal of Business and Management, 12(12), 15. https://doi.org/10.5539/ijbm.v12n12p15

Mazzi, F., Slack, R., Tsalavoutas, I., & Tsoligkas, F. (2022). Exploring investor views on accounting for R&D costs under IAS 38. Journal of Accounting and Public Policy, 41(2), 106944. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaccpubpol.2022.106944

McClure, C. G., & Zakolyukina, A. A. (2023). Non-GAAP Reporting and Investment. The Accounting Review, 99(2), 341–367. https://doi.org/10.2308/TAR-2021-0384

Mengko, M. H., Budiarso, N. S., & Kalalo, M. Y. B. (2022). The Effect of Sustainability Report Disclosure and Profitability on Firm Value of Listed Companies on the Indonesia Stock Exchange for the 2018-2021 Period. Journal of Governance, Taxation and Auditing, 1(2), 171–177. https://doi.org/10.38142/jogta.v1i2.454

Mohammadi, S., & Nezhad, B. M. (2015). The role of disclosure and transparency in financial reporting. International Journal of Accounting and Economics Studies, 3(1), 60–62. https://doi.org/10.14419/ijaes.v3i1.4549

Mohanram, P., Sun, W., Xin, B., & Zhu, J. (2025). Does financial information presentation format matter? Evidence from Chinese firms’ reporting of research and development expense. Review of Accounting Studies, 30(2), 1638–1682. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11142-024-09868-y

Moscariello, N., & Pizzo, M. (2020). Reporting Non-GAAP Financial Measures: A Theoretical and Empirical Analysis in Europe. In Educacao e Sociedade (Vol. 1, Issue 1). Cambridge Scholars Publishing. http://www.biblioteca.pucminas.br/teses/Educacao_PereiraAS_1.pdf%0Ahttp://www.anpocs.org.br/portal/publicacoes/rbcs_00_11/rbcs11_01.htm%0Ahttp://repositorio.ipea.gov.br/bitstream/11058/7845/1/td_2306.pdf%0Ahttps://direitoufma2010.files.wordpress.com/2010/

Mutiara, H. N., & Mahardika, D. P. K. (2020). The Effect Of Sustainability Report Disclosure And Profitability On Company Value (Case Study : Company Listed in SRI-KEHATI Index Period 2015-2018). E-Proceeding of Management, 7(1), 872–879.

Nesi, E. (2025). Non - GAAP Performance Indicators. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-02341-4_1

Nielsen, B. B., & Raswant, A. (2018). The selection, use, and reporting of control variables in international business research: A review and recommendations. Journal of World Business, 53(6), 958–968. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwb.2018.05.003

Ningsih, S., Prasetyo, K., Puspitasari, N., Cahyono, S., & Kamarudin, K. A. (2023). Earnings Management and Sustainability Reporting Disclosure: Some Insights from Indonesia. Risks, 11(7), 137. https://doi.org/10.3390/risks11070137

Nopiana, P. R., & Novita, W. (2022). Analysis Stock Price Comparison with Price To Book Value (PBV) Method as the Basis for Investment Decisions At Starup Indonesia Company. International Journal of Islamic Business and Management Review, 2(2), 192–201. https://doi.org/10.54099/ijibmr.v2i2.401

OECD. (2025). Asia Capital Markets Report 2025 (OECD Capit). OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/02172cdc-en

Ozkan, N. (2022). R & D Spending and Financial Performance : An Investigation in an Emerging Market. International Journal of Management Economics and Business, 18(1), 38–58. https://doi.org/10.17130/ijmeb.964849

Preacher, K. J., & Hayes, A. F. (2008). Asymptotic and resampling strategies for assessing and comparing indirect effects in multiple mediator models. Behavior Research Methods 2008, 40(3), 879–891. https://doi.org/10.3758/BRM.40.3.879

Presccilia, A., & Widiastuti, H. (2024). The Role of Forward-Looking Disclosure in the Relationship of R&D Expenditure and Firm Value: Testing Agency and Signaling Theories. 1st International Conference on Digital Technologies and Sustainability Accounting (ICDSA 2024), 201, 02003. https://doi.org/10.1051/shsconf/202420102003

Rahman, M. M., & Howlader, M. S. (2022a). The impact of research and development expenditure on firm performance and firm value : evidence from a South Asian emerging economy. Journal of Applied Accounting Research, 23(4), 825–845. https://doi.org/10.1108/JAAR-07-2021-0196

Rahman, M. M., & Howlader, M. S. (2022b). The impact of research and development expenditure on firm performance and firm value: evidence from a South Asian emerging economy. Journal of Applied Accounting Research, 23(4), 825–845. https://doi.org/10.1108/JAAR-07-2021-0196

Ranasinghe, D., Unda, L. A., & Right, S. (2019). The Role of the Board of Directors in Non- GAAP Earnings Disclosures University of Technology Sydney. Accounting Research Seminar Series, February 2019, 0–45. https://www.unsw.edu.au/business/sites/default/files/seminars-conferences/S_Wright_The_Role_of_the_Board_of_Directors_in_Non-GAAP_Earnings_Disclosures.pdf

Ravšelj, D., & Aristovnik, A. (2020). The impact of R and D expenditures on corporate performance: Evidence from Slovenian and world R and D companies. Sustainability, 12(5), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12051943

Rehman, A. U., Hamad, M., Haseeb, M., & Chishty, B. A. (2025). The protective duo: Sukuk and corporate social sustainability as crash risk mitigators. Journal of Financial Reporting and Accounting. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFRA-05-2024-0309

Reimsbach, D. (2014). Pro forma earnings disclosure: the effects of non-GAAP earnings and earnings-before on investors’ information processing. Journal of Business Economics, 84(4), 479–515. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11573-013-0688-y

Rodríguez Valencia, L. (2025). Financial Performance and Corporate Governance on Firm Value: Evidence from Spain. International Journal of Financial Studies, 13(3), 123. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijfs13030123

Shiah-Hou, S. R. (2021). The relation between non-GAAP earnings and accounting restatements: Evidence after regulation G. Advances in Accounting, 55(December), 100567. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adiac.2021.100567

Song, X., Qiu, H., Lin, Y., Luehlfing, M. S., & Eduardo, M. (2025). A Re-Examination of the “ Informational ” Role of Non-GAAP Earnings in the Post-Reg G Period. Journal OfRisk and Financial Management, 18(8), 414. https://doi.org/10.3390/jrfm18080414

Spence, M. (1973). Job market signaling. Quarterly Journal of Economics, 87(3), 355–374. https://doi.org/10.2307/1882010

Tung, L. T., & Binh, Q. M. Q. (2022). The impact of R&D expenditure on firm performance in emerging markets: evidence from the Vietnamese listed companies. Asian Journal of Technology Innovation, 30(2), 447–465. https://doi.org/10.1080/19761597.2021.1897470

Wu, W.-S., & Zhao, K. (2022). Government R&D subsidies and enterprise R&D activities: theory and evidence. Economic Research-Ekonomska Istraživanja, 35(1), 391–408. https://doi.org/10.1080/1331677X.2021.1893204

Xin, Q., Shi, L., & Zhang, C. (2024). Mandatory Disclosure of R&D Expenditures and Analyst Forecasts. Emerging Markets Finance and Trade, 60(6), 1162–1181. https://doi.org/10.1080/1540496X.2023.2277383

Yoro, M. (2024). Impact of Financial Reporting Transparency on Investor Decision-Making. American Journal of Accounting, 6(1), 25–36. https://doi.org/10.47672/ajacc.1785

Zeghal, D., & Mhedhbi, K. (2006). An analysis of the factors affecting the adoption of international accounting standards by developing countries. International Journal of Accounting, 41(4), 373–386. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intacc.2006.09.009

Submitted

2026-05-08

Accepted

2026-09-28

Published

2026-09-30

How to Cite

Hikmahwati, H., Noor Romy Rahwani, Widya Ais Sahla, & Angela Tan-Kantor. (2026). Revisiting Agency and Signaling Theories: Evidence from Non-GAAP Measures, R&D Expenditures, and Firm Value in Southeast Asia. Riset Akuntansi Dan Keuangan Indonesia, 11(2). https://doi.org/10.23917/reaksi.v11i2.17397