Investigating the value content of different models of free cash flow by considering the growth opportunities and adequacy of the Corporate Governance

The purpose of this study is to identify a certain criterion of free cash flow that has the most value content under the influence of growth opportunities and corporate governance system. In fact, the purpose of this study is to conduct research that can be effective in improving the comparability of companies and thus the quality of financial reporting by identifying a specific pattern of free cash flow that has value content. To achieve this goal, 11 widely used free cash flow models were tested on a sample of 180 companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange during 2009 to 2019 using panel data regression to examine the value content. The results of testing the research hypotheses showed that free cash flow based on the model of Lehn & Poulsen (1989) with a higher R2 than other models of free cash flow can explain changes in stock market prices under the influence of growth opportunities and corporate governance. . Overall, the findings show that the market gives more weight to the free cash flows of companies that have the opportunity for further growth and a strong corporate governance system.