Volume 65, Issue 2 pp. 2035-2064
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Visual annual reports and stock price crash risk

Rui Xiang

Rui Xiang

Business School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

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Congmin Song

Corresponding Author

Congmin Song

Business School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

Correspondence

Congmin Song, Business School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.

Email: [email protected]

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Rongyu Lin

Rongyu Lin

Business School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

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Lu Shen

Lu Shen

Business School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

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First published: 12 January 2025
Citations: 1

Abstract

Using a sample of Chinese A-Share listed companies during 2018–2023, we explore the influence of visual annual reports (VARs) on stock price crash risk. The results suggest that VARs are negatively associated with crash risk, and several robustness and endogeneity examinations validate our primary findings. Mechanism analyses reveal that reduced information asymmetry and increased internal control quality may serve as potential pathways through which VARs influence crash risk. Additionally, cross-sectional examinations suggest that the negative relation between VARs and crash risk is more pronounced for companies with poor annual report readability and limited external monitoring.

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

The data are publicly available from the sources identified in the paper.

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