Predicting Audit Reports Using Meta-Heuristic Algorithms

Purpose - This study aims to predict the audit reports of listed companies on the Tehran Stock Exchange by using meta-heuristic algorithms. Research design, data, methodology - This applied research aims to predict auditors reports' using meta-heuristic methods (i.e., neural networks, the ANFIS, and a genetic algorithm). The sample includes all firms listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange. The research covers the seven years between 2005 and 2011. Results - The results show that the ANFIS model using fuzzy clustering and a least-squares back propagation algorithm has the best performance among the tested models, with an error rate of 4% for incorrect predictions and 96% for correct predictions. Conclusion - A decision tree was used with ten independent variables and one dependent variable the less important variables were removed, leaving only those variables with the greatest effect on auditor opinion (i.e., net-profit-to-sales ratio, current ratio, quick ratio, inventory turnover, collection period, and debt coverage ratio).