Um estudo a respeito do uso de relatórios contábeis para a realização de investimentos no mercado de capitais

Abstract

This article addresses the use of accounting reports as a support tool for investments in the capital market. Its objective is to analyze whether knowledge of financial statements aids in investment decision-making. The applied methodology is qualitative in nature, with data collected through a questionnaire administered to students of the Accounting Sciences program at a federal university located in the Midwest region of Brazil. The results indicate that knowledge of accounting reports can significantly contribute to the security and profitability of investments, as it enables investors to analyze companies' financial situations in detail, facilitating more strategic and detailed decision-making. Students who successfully answered questions on current liquidity analysis, solvency ratios, and demonstrated understanding of the Income Statement reported greater satisfaction with their investment returns. The data also revealed that students face challenges in fully utilizing accounting reports for investment decision-making, with a high error rate observed in the early semesters, particularly on more complex financial analyses such as horizontal analysis. However, these error rates decrease significantly in the later semesters, suggesting that as students deepen their knowledge of accounting tools, they become better equipped to make more accurate decisions, with greater security and profitability in their investments.