International Journal In Management & Social Science – September 2014 Edition | IJMR

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http://ijmr.net.in, Email: irjmss@gmail.com ROLE OF FINANCIAL STATEMENT IN INVESTMENT DECISION MAKING.

ALHAJI KAWUGANA

Federal Polytechnic P.M.B 0231 Bauchi, Bauchi State Nigeria alhajikawugana@gmail.com

FARUNA SIMON FARUNA Sfaruna@yahoo.com FIRST BANK OF NIGERIA PLC

Abstract

The aim of the study will be centered on the financial statement presented to shareholders,

potential investors, bond holders and trade creditors as a tool of information for investment

decision. Corporate organizations owe a duty to fully disclose matters concerning their

operations so as to aid investors in making investment decisions because Investment decision

makers rely on information obtained from financial statements to predict future rates of

return. Without the financial statement, there will be a problem of how to determine the profit

of a company, and evaluation of company performance. The general objective is to ascertain

the role of financial statement in investment decision making. The study will be based on

survey and questionnaire will be used to gather information. The methods used in analyzing

this study are simple percentage and chi-square. Concluded was drawn based on the findings

that financial statement plays a vital role in investment decision making and recommends that

no investment decision should be taken without the consideration of a company’s financial

statements and every company should ensure that all material fact is reflected in their

financial statement

Key Words: Financial, Statements, Analysis, information, Investment decision, corporate

organizations

Introduction

Every business concern wants to know the various financial aspects for effective decision

making. The preparation of financial statement is required in order to achieve the objectives

of the firm as a whole. Corporate organizations owe a duty to fully disclose matters

concerning their operations so as to aid investors in making investment decisions. Both large

and small organizations in addition to satisfying the legislating requirement tend to retain

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http://ijmr.net.in, Email: irjmss@gmail.com statements where the capital stock of a corporation is widely held and its affairs are of

interest to general public relations.

The aim of the study will be centered on the financial statement presented to shareholders and

also available for potential investors, bond holders and trade creditors as a tool of information

for investment decision. Financial statement based on result on past activities are analyzed

and interpreted as a basis for predicting future rate of returns and assessment of risk.

Financial statement provides important information for a wide variety of decision, investors

draw information from the statement of the firm in whose security they contemplate

investing. Decision makers who contemplate acquiring total or partial ownership of an

enterprise expect to secure returns on their investment such as dividends and increase in the

value of their investment [capital gain]. Both dividends and increase in the value of shares of

company depends on the future profitability of the enterprise. So investors are interested in

future profitability. Past income dividend data are used to forecast returns from dividend and

increase in share prices.

STATEMENT OF RESEARCH PROBLEM

It is observed that the role of financial statements in investment decision making in Nigeria

has some problems to both investors and managers of business organizations who are either

not aware of the importance of interdependence relationship that exist between investors and

business organizations. Such problems include;

i. How analytical tools are set to aid prospective investors in accessing the financial position

of the corporate organization.

ii.Evaluation of company performance in investment decision making.

iii.How to determine the profitability of a company.

The problems analyzed tend to scare away both existing and potential investors. The reason

of this study is to adequately look into the above problems and suggest possible solution to

any of them. Nevertheless this research will find possible key factors to solving these

problems because financial statement in investment decision making in Nigeria is the life

blood of every organization to the potential investor.

OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The general objective is to ascertain the role of financial statement in investment decision

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http://ijmr.net.in, Email: irjmss@gmail.com i.To examine how a set of analytical tools will aid prospective investors in assessing the

financial position of the corporate organization.

ii.To evaluate the performance of a company for investment decision making.

iii.To determine the profitability of the company.

iv.To appraise the fundamental use of financial statement information, this is to provide

information for investment decision making.

Literature Review

The basis of financial planning analysis and decision making is the financial information.

Financial information is needed to predict, compare and evaluate a firm’s earning ability. It is

also required to aid in economic decision making investment and financing decision making.

The financial information of an enterprise is contained in the financial statements.

Financial statement according to V. S Gavtam (2005:215) is defined as financial information

which is the information relating to financial position of any firm in a capsule form.

Financial statement according to J.AOhison (1999) was defined as a written report that

summarizes the financial status of an organization for a stated period of time. It includes an

income statement and balance sheet or statement of the financial position describing the flow

of resources, profit and loss and the distribution or retention of profit.

Financial statement according to Academic of organization

Dictionary is a document which sets out the assets, income, expenses and debts of a company

to allow a third person to assess that company’s health.

Financial statements according to Nigeria accounting standard Board (NABS) are the areas of

communicating to interested parties information on the resource obligations and

performances of the reporting entity.

Financial statement can also be defined as the process whereby information relating to the

organization as a whole is reported to the outside world. They are reports on management and

not to management. It deals with most external financial transactions of the organization.

Financial statements are source documents of accounting information. They are referred to as

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http://ijmr.net.in, Email: irjmss@gmail.com NATURE OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Financial Statements are prepared on the basis of business transactions recorded in the books

of Original Entry or Subsidiary Books, Ledger, and Trial Balance. Recording the transactions

in the books of primary entry supported by document proofs such as Vouchers, Invoice Note

etc.

According to the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, "Financial Statement

reflects a combination of recorded facts, accounting conventions and personal judgments and

conventions applied which affect them materially." It is therefore, nature and accuracy of the

data included in the financial statements which are influenced by the following factors:

(1) Recorded Facts.

(2) Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.

(3) Personal Judgments.

(4) Accounting Conventions.

FEATURES OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Jennins, (2004). Said the basic features of financial statements are;

i.Financial statements always relate to past period and hence there are called historical

document.

ii.Financial statement is expressed in monetary terms.

iii.Financial statements indicate profitability of the business through income statement and

financial position through the statement of financial position (Jennins, 2004).

OBJECTIVES OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Financial statements are very useful as they serve varied affected group having a

economic interest in the activities in the business entity.

The objective of financial statements apart from using it for the purpose of decision is as

follows:

1) Earning Potential : They provide financial information that assist in estimating the

earning potential of the enterprise

2) Resource and obligation : They also provide reliable information about economic

resources and obligation of business enterprises

3) Full Disclosure : They disclose other information related to the financial statements

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4) Chang in net worth : They also provide reliable information about change in the

worth of a company that resulted from trading and other activities

5) To provide sufficient information about results of operations of business over a period

of time

ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Users of financial statements can get further insight about financial strength and weakness of

a company if they properly analyze information reported in these statements. Therefore,

financial analysis is the process of identifying financial strength and weakness of a company

by properly establishing relationships between the items in the balance sheet or statement of

financial position and income statement. Financial analysis can be undertaken by the

management of the company or by parties outside the company e.g. shareholders, creditors,

investors and others. The nature of the analysis will differ depending on the purpose of the

analyst ( Gautam, 2005).

USERS OF FINANCIAL STATEMENT

The persons who receive accounting reports are termed the users of financial statements. The

type of information a specific user requires from the financial statements depends upon the

kind of decision that person must made. This it is said that financial statement is user

oriented.

The various user of financial statement can be grouped into two broad divisions, internal and

external users. The internal users are the:

1. Management Team: This is the management of the entity itself. They are concerned with

the overall financial worth of the enterprise. Management has the overall responsibility to see

that the resources of the firm are used most effectively and efficiently and that the firm’s

financial position is always sound. They need the financial statement for planning,

controlling and decision making on the day to day operations and long range (strategic) plan

of the organization (adebiyi, 2006).

2. Employees: Employees and trade union are more concerned about long term survival and

profitability of the firm, as such its ability to pay higher wages, salaries, bonus and better

working conditions (adebiyi, 2006). .

The external users are persons or agencies outside the organization and they include;

3. Prospective Investors: Jennies, (2004). Said investors who wish to become shareholders

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http://ijmr.net.in, Email: irjmss@gmail.com more confidence in those firms that show steady growth in earnings. As such they

concentrate on the analysis of the firm’s present and future profitability

4. Trade Creditor: Jennies, (2004). Said trade creditors like suppliers and other short term

lenders are more interested in the firm’s ability to meet their claims over a very short period of time. They will confirm their analysis on the evaluation of the firm’s liquidity position

based on the analysis of the firm and determine the terms and conditions of any lending (or

supply) to the firm e.g. security, repayment time etc

5. Suppliers: Siyanbola&Adedeji, (2012) Suppliers of long-term debt would be more

concerned with the firm’s long-term solvency and survival. They analyze the firm’s

profitability over time, its ability to generate cash to be able to pay interest and repay

principal and the relationship between various sources of funds (capital structure

relationship). Long-term creditors do analyze the historical financial statement but they place

more emphasis on the firm’s projected or pro-forma financial statements to make analysis

about its future solvency and profitability.

6. Banks and Other Financial Institution:Tunji.(2012:68) They study a company’s

financial statements to enable them grant loans.

7. Government: Tunji(2012:265) said the study the financial statement of a company to

enable them impose tax on profit.

8. Educational/Research Institution:Tunji.(2012:265) said they require the accounting

information for teaching and research purpose.

9. Public: Tunji(2012:66) said Public are interested in many ways especially the economic

life and the standard of living.

10. Stock Exchange:Tunji(2012:65) said Stock exchange may derive several conclusions

from the figures of financial statement such as performance, profitability prospects of change

in the share value and health of the company.

11. Customers: Customers who buy or subscribe for the services or goods of the firm are

more concerned about the long-run survival of the firm to continue to supply goods or

services.

12. Potential Buyers:Tunji. (2012) said Potential buyers of the firm through acquisition or

merger are more concerned about the potential profitability of the firm in the future as such

they decide on the reasonable price to pay and the actions to be taken on the purchase of the

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http://ijmr.net.in, Email: irjmss@gmail.com DEFINITION AND NATURE OF INVESTMENT DECISIONS

As postulated by I. M Pandeg (2005:141) investment decisions or analysis has to do with an

efficient allocation of capital. It involves decision to commit the firm’s funds to the long-term

assets. Such decisions are of considerable importance to the firm since they tend to determine

its value size by influencing its growths, profitability and risk Investment decision of a firm is

one which is expected to produce benefits to the firm over a long period of time and it can

pass both tangible and intangible assets (porter field J. T. S 1995:170)The investment

decisions of a firm are generally known as the capital budgeting decision may be defined as

the firm’s decision to invest its current funds most efficiently in the long -term assets in

anticipated of an expected flow of benefits over a series of years.

According to Canada and White (4) is the series of decisions by individual economic units as

to how much and where resources will be obtained and expected for future. Situation where

capital expenditure decisions are made or taken, they are based primary with measurement of

capital productivity which provides an objective means of measuring the economic worth of

individual investment proposals in order to have a realistic basis for choosing among the

firm’s long run property. (Pandey 2005:141). The long-term asset is those which affect the firms operation beyond the are year period. The firm’s investment decision would generally

include expansion acquisition, modernization and replacements of the long-term assets.

Sales of division or business divestment are also analyzed as an investment decision.

Activities such as change in the methods of sales distribution or undertaking an advertisement

campaign or a research and development programmes have long-term implications for the

firms expenditures and benefits, and therefore, they may also be evaluated as investment

decisions. It is important to note that investment in long-term assets invariably requires funds

to be tied up in the current assets such as inventories and receivables, some of the features of

investment decisions are as follows:

a) The exchange of current funds for future benefits

b) The funds are invested in long-term assets

c) The benefits will occur to the firm over a series of years

The two importance aspects of investment decisions are;

a) The evaluation of the prospective profitability of new investments.

b) The measurement of a cut-off rate against that the prospective return of new investment

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http://ijmr.net.in, Email: irjmss@gmail.com Future benefits of investment are difficult to measure and cannot be predicted with certainty.

Risk in investment arises because of the uncertain returns. Investment proposals should

therefore, be evaluated in terms of expected return and risk. Beside the decision to commit

funds in new investment proposals, capital budgeting also involves replacement decisions

that are decision of recommitting funds when an asset becomes less productive or non

profitable. The correct cut-off rate in investments is the opportunity cost of capital which is

the expected rate of return that an investor could earn by investing in financial assets of

equivalent risk.

It is significant to emphasize that expenditures and benefits or an investment should be

measured in cash. In an investment analysis, it is cash flow which is important, not the

accounting profit. It may also be pointed out that investment decisions affect the firm’s value. The firm’s value will increase if investments are profitable and add to the shareholder’s

wealth. These increases are reflected in the financial statement of the firm, which invariably

are used as tool for investment decisions owing to certain analysis inherent in them.

2.12 IMPORTANCE OF INVESTMENT DECISION

Investment decisions require special attention because of the following reasons;

a) They influence the firm’s growth in the long-term

b) They affect the Risk of the firm

c) They involve commitment large amount of funds

d) They are irreversible or reversible at substantial loss

e) They are among the most difficult decisions to make. Quirin, 2010

TYPES OF INVESTMENT DECISION

Investments are classified in many ways such as;

1) Expansion of existing business

2) Expansion of new business

3) Replacement and modernization

1. Expansion and Diversification: A firm may decide to add more capacity of its

existing products line to expand existing operation.

Sometimes a firm may expand its activities in a new business. Note, the expansion of a new

business requires investment in new activity within the firm.

However, a situation whereby a firm acquires existing firm to expand its business in either

case, the firm makes investment in the existing or new products may be called revenue

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http://ijmr.net.in, Email: irjmss@gmail.com which is the case study of this research work. During prof. soloudo’s 25% capital base

strategy mapped out, to be adopted by all banks.

2. Replacement and Modernization: the main objective of modernization and replacement

is to improve operating efficiency and reduce costs. Cost saving will reflect in the increased

profit, but the firm’s revenue may remain unchanged. Assets become outdated and obsolete

with technological changes. The firm must decide to replace those assets with new assets that

operate more economically and therefore is called cost reduction investments. These

investments can be classified as follows;

i. Mutually exclusive investments

ii. Independent investments

iii. Contingent investment

i. Mutually Exclusive Investment: This investment serves the same purpose and

competes with each other, if one investment is undertaken others will have to be excluded.

ii. Independent Investment: the investment serves different purposes and do not

compete with each other. Depending on their profitability and availability of funds, the firm

can undertake both investments.

iii. Contingent Investment: These investments are dependent projects; the choice of one

investment necessitates undertaking one or more other investments.

THE ROLE OF FINANCIAL STATEMENT IN INVESTMENT DECISION

The aim of financial statement is to provide financial information about an entity to

interested parties. The information contained in the reports, however, it can only become

meaningful through financial interpretations derived from the analysis of the reported data.

This interpretations and decision unveils the essence of financial statements as the major

custodian of financial information necessary for any investment decisions. Investment

decisions are not made on a vacuum hence; there are bedrocks on which they will stand.

One major tool for these investment decisions is the ratio analysis. Ratio analysis is the

judgmental process which aims at evaluating the current and past financial positions and the

results of an entity the primary objectives of determining the best possible estimate about the

future conditions and performances. It provides a quick diagnostic look at an entity’s

financial health and trigger off subsequent financial and operational analysis Okwoli,

(1992:9) from the foregoing, the figures that are used in the financial analysis are being

dedicated from the financial statements which in turn inform our investment decisions.

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http://ijmr.net.in, Email: irjmss@gmail.com investment decision and the major issue to note here is that financial statements are the major

source of the raw materials for the investment decisions.

Simply put by U.S Gavtan (2005:236) it is a process of determining and interpreting the

relationship between the items of financial statement to provide a useful understanding of the

performance, solvency and profitability of an enterprise. More so, for ratio to be useful

investment decision, it must be compared with earlier periods to indicate trends or compared

with similar organizations in the industry to determine strengths and weaknesses ideally

compared with the industrial average.

Methodology

The data used in this study were obtained from primary and secondary sources. The data

were collated from different sources such as journals, Newspapers, Annual statistical bulletin

of the central bank of Nigeria, Commercial banks reports and personal interview and

questionnaire were also used.

Simple percentage and chi-square technique was used to select 400 sample sizes. This was

based on the sample size guideline that when the population is about 5000 or more, 400

sample size is adequate for the study (Leedy and Ormrod, 2005), Olatunji, 2010 and Usman,

2015).The data will be analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA)

Discussion of Findings

1.The findings of the study reveals that users of financial information are using it as a guide

for investment in respect to investors, Government for tax purpose, Trade creditors’ ability to

meet their obligations over a short term period ,Management financial success of the firm

2. The findings also reveal that the financial statement shows the strength and weakness of a

given firm for a given period

3. The findings of the study further reveal that competitors can compare their strength and

weaknesses

4. The respondents agree that the financial statement plays an important role in investment

decision making.

5. Financial statements are useful for forecasting company’s performance.

6. There is a positive and significant relationship between financial statement and investment

decision making.

7. Financial statements provide various facts of a business such as, accurate records of its

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http://ijmr.net.in, Email: irjmss@gmail.com Finally, the basic aim of this study is to determine the role of financial statement in

investment decision making. This is because prospective investor’s uses financial statement

of concerns as a major parameter for assessing the profitability and the risk of investing in

such ventures and the aim of financial statement is to provide financial information about an

entity to interested parties. The information can become meaningful through financial

interpretations and decisions unveil the essence of financial statement as the major custodian

of financial information necessary for any investment decision. Investment are not made on a

vacuum hence, there are bedrocks on which they will stand.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, financial statements are prepared for accounting maintained by companies

generally accepted accounting principles and procedures are followed to prepare these

statements which are used for the purpose of decision making. The Financial strengths and

weaknesses of a firm are revealed in its financial statement. Financial statement plays a vital

role in investment decision making; for instance, where companies invest hundreds of

billions of naira every year in fixed assets. By their nature, these investment decisions have

the potential to affect the firm’s fortunes over several years. For a good decision can boost

earning sharply and dramatically increase the value of the firm.

This financial information can be subjected to various scrutiny and analysis depending on the

investors before making their investment decisions. This is quickly appreciated in the

banking sector as one of the major criteria’s the demand from their borrowers at the financial

statements of the concern for various years. This is subjected to their analysis and

interpretations before they can go ahead in the loan negotiation concerning any company.

Hence it is opined that companies should try as much as possible to posit financial statements

that reflects a true and fair view of what is propose to represent as a way of appreciating their

companies the more.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Having gone through this study the researcher recommend the following as a way of

incurring that financial statement plays a vital rule in investment decisions

1. Every company should ensure that all material fact is reflected in their financial statement.

2. There should be prompt provision of the financial statement at the end of each financial

year.

3. Investment decision should not be on a vacuum or rule of thumb rather, the financial

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http://ijmr.net.in, Email: irjmss@gmail.com 4. Every company should adhere to the demand of subjecting their financial statements to

statutory audit as a way of authenticating their contents.

5. No investment decisions on a company should be taken without the consideration of a

company’s financial statements.

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