The highlights section in the annual report provides an opportunity for firms to emphasize specific performance measures and sets the tone for the rest of the annual report. Based on a sample of the top 200 Australian firms, we find that companies rely on non-IFRS earnings to supplement statutory net income in the highlights section. At the same time, firms are more likely to present non-IFRS earnings in the highlights section that beat earnings benchmarks, suggesting that they might be motivated to embellish their financial performance through non-IFRS earnings. However, we further find the non-IFRS earnings used in the highlights section are more likely to be included in audited sections of the annual report as well, serving as a tool for signaling credibility. Our findings add to the ongoing controversial debate on the informativeness of non-IFRS earnings with a specific focus on the highlights section in the annual report.
