Investors rely on financial as well as non-financial information
for their investment. Recent research on behavioural finances
specifies that almost all (well educated) investors identify and
seek non-financial information.
Following Non-financial information is used by investors.
Reaons are given therin.
- Sustainability of entity: How sustainable the
entity is in long term. Various Solvancy Ratios will be used by
potential investors (more specifically - corporate investors) to
understand the solvancy of the entity. Once the solvancy is
satisfied, sustainability of the position in the market is seen by
the investors by comparing with the compititors.
- CSR: Corporate Social Responsibility is
essential part of every corporation. This shows how the corporation
sees its society and how much is it beneficial to the society. This
is how corporate keep up their goodwill in the minds of people and
stay sustainable.
- Qualitative Poicy Statements: Customer
retention is very essential. Customers expect quality goods and
services. Thus, quality statements of company is seen carefully by
the long term investors.
- Third Party Assurance: Third party are
independent entities that have nothing to do with this company.
Thus, their credit guarantee matters alot to the investors. Third
party do not lie.
- Organisational Structure: Is the organisation
a company? A partnership firm? a HUF? or Sole Proprietor? Next
question is - Are the management active in decision making and
adopting? are they fast enough to change with the short term
changes in the environment? Do they have participative management
or bureaucratic? Who are the Directors, Managers? Many such
question are asked by the investors.
- Any legal issues: One of the most important
factos that an investor sees is into legal matter. If any legal
cases are being fought in the court of law, the credibility goes
down. Generally, businesses have legal issues. But the nature of
crime/ mistake/ error/ fraud decides if the investor is
interested.
- Corporate Governance: Governance is the factor
that is getting a broader meaning these days. It is also an
important factor. It comprises of all the processes, rules and laws
that govern the company. better the company governance, better is
customer and employee satisfaction, hence better are returns for
the investors.
Conclusion: Financial information gives a sense
of return guarantee for an investor. But non-financial information
gives reliability for the inestment. Long term investors, creditors
(definitely) seek the non-financial information that assures them
the return of funds - Principal and Interest.
For clarifications or more explanation, please comment
below.
Thumbs up if this answer helps!
All the best !!