This study was developed to evaluate how earnings reported in the financial statements incorporate stock returns of public companies from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Peru and Venezuela. Thus, the level of asymmetry on recognition of good and bad news was analyzed applying the Basu model (1997). Results indicate a low relationship between current earnings and current stock returns. This fact can be explained by the relationship between corporate governance models and their relationship with the value-relevance of accounting information taking into account the institutional environment. It must be highlighted that an asymmetric recognition was observed between good and bad news, indicating a certain level of conservatism on accounting earnings. This work contributes to reduce the existing gap on international literature regarding the role of accounting in developing countries.
Conservatism; International Accounting; Basu Model
