How Firm Characteristics Shape Earnings Quality: Evidence from Indonesian Manufacturing Firms

Authors

  • Siti Nur Handayani Muhammadiyah University of Gresik, Gresik, Indonesia
  • Syaiful Syaiful Muhammadiyah University of Gresik, Gresik, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55980/ebasr.v4i1.176

Keywords:

Firm Size, Profitability, Liquidity, Earnings Quality, Financial Statements

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the effect of firm size, profitability, and liquidity on earnings quality in manufacturing companies within the industrial sector listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) during the 2020–2023 period. Earnings quality is a multidimensional concept that reflects how reported earnings are reliable and relevant for stakeholders in making economic decisions. In this context, agency theory is the foundation to explain potential conflicts of interest between managers and shareholders in financial reporting practices. The sample was selected using a purposive sampling method based on specific criteria, and the data were analyzed using multiple linear regression. Classical assumption tests indicate that the data meet the requirements for normality, show no multicollinearity or autocorrelation, and satisfy the assumption of homoscedasticity. Regression results show that firm size does not significantly affect earnings quality (p > 0.05), while profitability and liquidity have a negative and significant effect on earnings quality (p < 0.05). The coefficient of determination (R²) of 14.1% indicates that the three independent variables explain only a small portion of the variation in earnings quality. The study's implications highlight the importance of monitoring managerial practices, particularly in companies with low profitability and liquidity, to prevent earnings manipulation and enhance investor trust. The findings also encourage regulators to strengthen financial reporting transparency policies and provide valuable insights for investors to evaluate financial statements critically.

References

Al-Otaibi, M. I., Nor, N. M., Yusri, Y., & Guzaiz, N. (2024). The impact of new VAT enforcement on financial performance: Evidence from Saudi Arabia non-financial listed companies using the event study and ARMA model. Heliyon, 10(20), e39137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e39137

Alemu, F. M., & Worku, M. D. (2025). Impacts of corporate governance mechanisms on dynamics of banks financial performance: empirical evidences from private commercial banks of Ethiopia. Cogent Business and Management, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2025.2477286

Alshehadeh, A. R., Elrefae, G. A., El Qirem, I. A., Hatamleh, H. M., & Alkhawaja, H. (2024). Impact of profitability on investment opportunities and its effect on profit sustainability. Uncertain Supply Chain Management, 12(2), 871–882. https://doi.org/10.5267/j.uscm.2024.1.001

Amirapu, A., & Gechter, M. (2020). Labor regulations and the cost of corruption: Evidence from the indian firm size distribution. Review of Economics and Statistics, 102(1), 34–48. https://doi.org/10.1162/rest_a_00837

Aprian, J. N., & Yustisia, N. (2022). Factors Affecting Earnings Persistence Companies on the Indonesia Stock Exchange in Pharmaceutical. Indonesian Development of Economics and Administration Journal, 1(2), 92–102.

Atanasova, C., & Willeboordse, F. H. (2025). The impact of corporate diversification on liquidity management: Evidence from lines of credit. Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, 101, 102139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intfin.2025.102139

Barik, D. N., & Chakrabarty, S. P. (2025). Loan Portfolio Management and Liquidity Risk: The Impact of Limited Liability and Haircut. Journal of Quantitative Economics. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40953-025-00442-0

Bhattacheryay, S. (2023). Multinational working capital management a study on Toyota Motor Corporation. International Journal of Finance & Economics, 28(1), 236–256. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijfe.2418

Boivie, S., Withers, M. C., Graffin, S. D., & Corley, K. G. (2021). Corporate directors’ implicit theories of the roles and duties of boards. Strategic Management Journal, 42(9), 1662–1695. https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.3320

Breuer, M. (2021). How Does Financial-Reporting Regulation Affect Industry-Wide Resource Allocation? Journal of Accounting Research, 59(1), 59–110. https://doi.org/10.1111/1475-679X.12345

Darminto, D. P., Lysandra, S., Mulyadi, H. D., & Ahmar, N. (2024). Impact of integrated reporting on firm value and earnings quality as a moderator in Southeast Asia. Investment Management and Financial Innovations, 21(2), 191–204. https://doi.org/10.21511/imfi.21(2).2024.15

Djolafo, S. (2022). The Effect of Profitability, Leverage, Corporate Social Responsibility and Executive Character on Tax Avoidance on Manufacturing Companies Listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange Period 2016-2020. Economics, Business, Accounting & Society Review, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.55980/ebasr.v1i1.3

Donkor, A., Trireksani, T., & Djajadikerta, H. G. (2025). The role of integrated reporting and earnings management on the combined assurance and capital market liquidity relationship. 10(2), 200–218. https://doi.org/10.1108/AJAR-08-2024-0318

Doshchyn, A. (2025). Sinking ships: Liquidity constraints and return predictability in recessions. Journal of Monetary Economics, 151, 103746. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmoneco.2025.103746

Driskill, M., Kirk, M. P., & Tucker, J. W. (2020). Concurrent Earnings Announcements and Analysts’ Information Production. The Accounting Review, 95(1), 165–189. https://doi.org/10.2308/accr-52489

Edmans, A., Fang, V. W., & Huang, A. H. (2022). The Long-Term Consequences of Short-Term Incentives. Journal of Accounting Research, 60(3), 1007–1046. https://doi.org/10.1111/1475-679X.12410

Flugum, R., & Souther, M. E. (2025). Stakeholder Value: A Convenient Excuse for Underperforming Managers? Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, 60(1), 135–168. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022109023001308

Fonou-Dombeu, N. C., Nomlala, B. C., & Nyide, C. J. (2024). Investigating the effect of investor sentiment on stock return sensitivity to fundamental factors: case of JSE listed companies. Cogent Business and Management, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2024.2353846

Fu, S., & Trigilia, G. (2024). Voluntary Disclosure, Moral Hazard, and Default Risk. Management Science, 70(6), 3447–3469. https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.4860

Halling, M., Yu, J., & Zechner, J. (2020). How did COVID-19 affect firms’ access to public capital markets? Review of Corporate Finance Studies, 9(3), 501–533. https://doi.org/10.1093/rcfs/cfaa008

Hughes, R. (2008). Small and Large Firms over the Business Cycle. Journal of Chemical Information and Modeling, 53(9), 287.

Kamall Khan, Y., Kasuma, J., & Ali, A. (2022). The Challenges of Small and Medium Businesses in Managing Human Capital towards SMEs Performance – A Qualitative Study. Asian Journal of Business and Accounting, 15(1), 311–343. https://doi.org/10.22452/ajba.vol15no1.10

Kasbar, M. S. H., Tsitsianis, N., Triantafylli, A., & Haslam, C. (2023). An empirical evaluation of the impact of agency conflicts on the association between corporate governance and firm financial performance. Journal of Applied Accounting Research, 24(2), 235–259. https://doi.org/10.1108/JAAR-09-2021-0247

Kweh, Q. L., Lu, W. M., Tone, K., & Liu, H. M. (2024). Evaluating the resource management and profitability efficiencies of US commercial banks from a dynamic network perspective. Financial Innovation, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40854-023-00531-0

Liao, S., & Errico, M. (2023). Corporate investment and stock market valuation. Journal of Business Finance and Accounting, 50(3–4), 795–819. https://doi.org/10.1111/jbfa.12649

Löhde, A. S. K., Campopiano, G., & Calabrò, A. (2021). Beyond agency and stewardship theory: shareholder–manager relationships and governance structures in family firms. Management Decision, 59(2), 390–405. https://doi.org/10.1108/MD-03-2018-0316

Mansour, M., Al Zobi, M. K., Al-Naimi, A., & Daoud, L. (2023). The connection between Capital structure and performance: Does firm size matter? Investment Management and Financial Innovations, 20(1), 195–206. https://doi.org/10.21511/imfi.20(1).2023.17

Mendy, J. (2021). Performance management problem of four small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs): towards a performance resolution. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 28(5), 690–710. https://doi.org/10.1108/JSBED-06-2019-0201

Ozdemir, D., Sharma, M., Dhir, A., & Daim, T. (2022). Supply chain resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic. Technology in Society, 68(November 2021), 101847. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2021.101847

Roszkowska, P. (2021). Fintech in financial reporting and audit for fraud prevention and safeguarding equity investments. Journal of Accounting and Organizational Change, 17(2), 164–196. https://doi.org/10.1108/JAOC-09-2019-0098

Salehi, M., Ammar Ajel, R., & Zimon, G. (2023). The relationship between corporate governance and financial reporting transparency. Journal of Financial Reporting and Accounting, 21(5), 1049–1072. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFRA-04-2021-0102

Sambo, E. M., Sufiati, S., & Pura, R. (2023). Determinants of Company Value: Study on Pharmaceutical Companies on the Indonesia Stock Exchange. Economics, Business, Accounting & Society Review, 2(3), 193–202. https://doi.org/10.55980/ebasr.v2i3.94

Sánchez-Infante Hernández, J. P., Yañez-Araque, B., & Moreno-García, J. (2020). Moderating effect of firm size on the influence of corporate social responsibility in the economic performance of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 151(June 2019), 119774. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2019.119774

Solikhah, B., Wahyudin, A., Al-Faryan, M. A. S., Iranda, N. N., Hajawiyah, A., & Sun, C. M. (2022). Corporate Governance Mechanisms and Earnings Quality: Is Firm Size a Moderation Variable? Journal of Governance and Regulation, 11(1 special issue), 200–210. https://doi.org/10.22495/jgrv11i1siart1

Solomon, S. J., Bendickson, J. S., Marvel, M. R., McDowell, W. C., & Mahto, R. (2021). Agency theory and entrepreneurship: A cross-country analysis. Journal of Business Research, 122(June 2020), 466–476. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2020.09.003

Sufiati, S., & Pura, R. (2023). Analysis of Company Size and Profitability on Islamic Social Responsibility Disclosure. Economics, Business, Accounting & Society Review, 2(2), 110–119. https://doi.org/10.55980/ebasr.v2i2.64

Tian, E. S., & Park, S. O. (2024). Environmental Protection Tax (EPT) and Its Influence on Firms’ Financial Health and Innovation Capabilities: Evidence from Chinese Listed Companies. Sustainability (Switzerland), 16(23). https://doi.org/10.3390/su162310585

Wang, J.-X., & Zhao, M.-Z. (2020). Economic impacts of ISO 14001 certification in China and the moderating role of firm size and age. Journal of Cleaner Production, 274, 123059. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.123059

Zhang, C., Zeng, Q., & Wu, Q. (2025). Unified brand strategy and operation quality of business group: evidence from stock price crash risk. China Journal of Accounting Studies, 00(00), 1–29. https://doi.org/10.1080/21697213.2025.2453683

Zudana, A., & Opare, S. (2025). Corporate takeover susceptibility and classification shifting. International Journal of Managerial Finance, 21(1), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJMF-11-2022-0478

Downloads

Published

2025-05-03

How to Cite

Handayani, S. N., & Syaiful, S. (2025). How Firm Characteristics Shape Earnings Quality: Evidence from Indonesian Manufacturing Firms. Economics, Business, Accounting & Society Review, 4(1), 26–37. https://doi.org/10.55980/ebasr.v4i1.176