The impact of different goodwill accounting methods on stock prices: A comparison of amortization and impairment-only methodologies

In March 2020, the IASB issued a discussion paper – ‘Business Combinations – Disclosures, Goodwill and Impairment’ – which discussed, inter alia, whether to introduce a sort of counterreformation of IAS 36 that might lead to the reintroduction of goodwill amortization. Among other things, the IASB, leveraging key findings from academic research, questioned a) the disclosure provided by entities applying IFRS 3 requirements and b) the timing of impairment write-downs and their overal1l magnitude. The main goal of this study, focusing on a large sample of European listed companies since the adoption of IAS in 2005, is to test the value relevance of goodwill under the current accounting framework and the alternative hypothesis of an amortization regime. Our findings show that the information provided by listed companies to market investors under the current accounting regime (verification at least annually of the recoverability of the value of the goodwill carrying amount through the impairment test) – the level of goodwill before and post impairment, as well as goodwill write downs – is value relevant and contributes to explain the level of the market to tangible book value multiple. On the contrary, simulating the alternative accounting scenario of goodwill amortization, we found that the information conveyed to market investor would not be value relevant, with the amortization itself added back to the multiple. The results support the current accounting framework and indicate that the best way to improve goodwill accounting is by enforcing present rules. This study aims to provide a multidimensional contribution to the current debate within the IASB, leveraging the largest database in Europe.