The Impact of Sustainability Reporting Disclosure and Accounting Information Comparability on Profit Continuity

ObjectiveThe importance of sustainability and the need for transparent, comparable performance reports have grown significantly. Companies are increasingly recognizing the necessity of sustainability reporting to offer valuable insights into their economic, social, and environmental impact. Sustainability reporting is also essential for building trust with stakeholders, including investors, customers, employees, and the broader community. Therefore, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the information presented in sustainability reports has become a fundamental concern for organizations. Sustainability reporting enables companies to identify and address sustainability risks, manage their profits more effectively, improve their international rankings, and foster global interactions. Furthermore, the comparability of accounting information allows stakeholders to discern differences and similarities in financial data, facilitating more informed decision-making processes. These aspects are vital for maintaining continuous profitability in corporations. Consequently, this study aims to provide empirical evidence on the impact of sustainability reporting disclosure and the comparability of accounting information on profit sustainability in companies listed in the Iranian capital market.MethodsThe study's statistical population consists of all companies listed on The Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE) and Farabourse Securities Market (OTC) i.e. over-the-counter, within the Iranian capital market. After applying the necessary filters, data was gathered quarterly on 96 companies across 12 different industries. The required data was extracted from financial statements, explanatory notes to the financial statements, interpretative reports, and board of directors' reports. Financial data was collected quarterly over four years, from 2019 to 2022, encompassing a total of 1536 company data points. The selected statistical sample accounted for approximately 40% of the total market value. To test the research hypotheses, the Generalized Least Squares (GLS) method was employed, providing a robust framework for analyzing the relationship between sustainability reporting and profit sustainability, as well as the comparability of accounting information.ResultsThe research findings indicate a significantly positive relationship between sustainability reporting disclosure and profit continuity. This relationship underscores the importance of transparency in sustainability practices and the positive impact it can have on a company's financial stability. The first hypothesis, which posited a significant relationship between sustainability reporting and profit continuity, confirmed. The findings also revealed no significant relationship between the comparability of accounting information and profit continuity, leading to the rejection of the second hypothesis. This suggests that while transparency in sustainability reporting is crucial, the mere comparability of financial statements does not necessarily translate to sustained profits.ConclusionThe results of this study highlight a significantly positive relationship between the disclosure of sustainability reports and the sustainability of company profits. Firms that transparently publish their sustainability reports are more likely to achieve consistent and sustainable profitability. Addressing sustainability issues can improve a company's performance and contribute to a more sustainable society overall. Conversely, the research results indicate that there is no significant relationship between the comparability of accounting information and profit sustainability. In other words, simply having similar financial statements does not guarantee the sustainability of profits. Profit sustainability may be influenced by a variety of other factors that are not directly related to the comparability of accounting information, such as market conditions, management practices, and external economic factors. These findings underscore the complexity of achieving sustained profitability and the need for a multifaceted approach that includes transparency in sustainability practices.