The explanatory factors of segments disclosure in non-financial entities listed in European markets

Resumen

Segment reporting (external) is a relevant tool for investors and other stakeholders, as the information is presented in a divisional way, enabling more accurate analysis to be made for decision making. Howe­ver, reporting entities do not always assure the inherent potential of segment reporting. This research aims to identify the explanatory factors that may influence the level of segment disclosure. For this purpose, we have investigated the segment disclosures presented in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) 8 of the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), as adopted by the European Union, based on consolidated reports and accounts (for the year 2015) of a sample of 91 entities from the Portuguese Stock Index (PSI-20), Cotation Assistée en Continu (CAC-40), Deutscher Aktie­nindex (DAX-30) and OMX Nordic 40 (OMX-N40). The findings indicate that size is directly related to both the number of operating segments disclosed and the level of disclosure required for each segment. Further, the latter seems to be also influenced by the existence of barriers to entry (directly) and the degree of internationalisation (inversely).