scholarly journals Working capital management: evidence from Norway

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 295-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hakim Lyngstadaas ◽  
Terje Berg

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide empirical evidence of whether working capital management (WCM) has an effect on the profitability of small- and medium-sized Norwegian firms. Design/methodology/approach – The data comprise 21,075 Norwegian small- and medium-sized enterprises and 84,300 observations made between 2010 and 2013. Panel data regressions were applied with fixed effects and a two-stage least squares analysis was employed to control for endogeneity. Findings – The results indicate that reducing cash conversion cycle will increase profitability. Even though endogeneity may exist, this does not affect the results from the previous analysis. Similar results are also obtained when industry-specific effects are controlled for, supporting the robustness of the results. The relevance of quadratic dependencies of the profitability on independent variables was also identified and suggests a decreasing trend of return on assets with increasing values of the WCM’s characteristic variables. Research limitations/implications – Drawing on similar studies, this study confirms that WCM is relevant for firms’ profitability. Practical implications – The practice of aggressive working capital policy in Norwegian firms is confirmed by the results of this study. Originality/value – This study contributes to the current research on the relationship between WCM and profitability by using a large dataset to add further robustness to results, and thus verifying whether or not the results in previous studies may be confirmed or not. Moreover, this is the first published study about this relationship among Norwegian firms in different industries, thus filling a gap in similar research conducted in other European countries.

2012 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 839 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melita Charitou ◽  
Petros Lois ◽  
Halim Budi Santoso

The major objective of this study is to examine the relationship between working capital management and firms profitability. Using a dataset of all Indonesian firms over the period 1998-2010, results show that the Cash Conversion Cycle and Net Trade Cycle are positively associated with the firms profitability. Results also show that firms riskiness, as measured by the debt ratio, is negatively related to the firms Return on Assets. The results of this study should be of interest to executives and major stakeholders, such as investors, creditors, and financial analysts, especially after the recent global financial crisis and the latest collapses of giant organizations worldwide.


2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-46
Author(s):  
Irfan Aryawan ◽  
Astiwi Indriani

The aims of this study is to analyze the relationship between working capital management and profitability (return on assets) as a dependent variable and cash conversion cycle (CCC), inventory conversion period (ICP), average collection period (ACP) and average payment period (APP) as independent variables with leverage, liquidity, and size as the controlling variables. The sample of this study are manufacturing companies in the Indonesian Stock Exchange 2013-2017. The analysis using OLS showed that the ACP has a negative and significant effect on ROA and the APP has a positive and significant effect on ROA, meanwhile CCC and ICP has a negative and insignificant effect on ROA.


2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harsh Pratap Singh ◽  
Satish Kumar ◽  
Sisira Colombage

Purpose The purpose of this study is to quantitatively aggregate the findings of prior literature on the effect of working capital management (WCM) on corporate profitability using the meta-analysis technique developed by Hunter et al. (1982). Design/methodology/approach A set of 46 research articles that directly studied the relationship between WCM, and profitability was analyzed for the purpose. In addition to overall meta-analysis, a detailed subgroup study was also conducted to test whether the differences in results are due to moderating effects related to different profitability proxies, economic development of a specific country and size of the firms under study. Findings The findings of this meta-analysis confirm that WCM is negatively associated with profitability, which means an aggressive WCM policy leads to higher profitability. Overall, and in all the subgroup studies, the cash conversion cycle was found to be negatively associated with profitability. Originality/value Unlike narrative literature review papers, this meta-analysis provides quantitatively aggregate evidence on the relationship of WCM and firms’ profitability. To the best of authors’ knowledge, no previous meta-analysis paper is published on the topic.


2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 341-358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Amélia Pais ◽  
Paulo Miguel Gama

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide empirical evidence on the effects of working capital management on the profitability of small and medium-sized Portuguese firms. Design/methodology/approach – Panel regressions (fixed effects) and instrumental variables were used to model a sample of 6,063 Portuguese small and medium-sized firms (SMEs), covering the time period 2002-2009. Also, industry-demeaned values and industry-specific dummy variables allow for industry-specific effects robustness tests. Findings – Results indicate that a reduction in the inventories held and in the number of days that firms take to settle their commercial liabilities and to collect payments from its customers are associated to higher corporate profitability. Similar results are obtained when industry-specific effects are controlled, supporting the robustness of the previous analysis. The relevance of quadratic dependences of the profitability on some variables was also identified and suggests a decreasing trend of return on assets with increasing values of the working capital management characteristic variables. Practical implications – The practice of more aggressive working capital management policies increase firms’ profitability. Moreover, the importance of a good practice in working capital management is stressed by the evidence suggesting the existence of an optimal level for the working capital components. Originality/value – The consensus that SMEs play a crucial role in the development of the national economy, the lack of published industry wide studies of this type for the case of Portugal, justifies the importance of the present study.


2020 ◽  
Vol 46 (8) ◽  
pp. 1061-1079 ◽  
Author(s):  
Himanshu Seth ◽  
Saurabh Chadha ◽  
Namita Ruparel ◽  
Puneet Kumar Arora ◽  
Satyendra Kumar Sharma

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to empirically investigate the relationship between working capital management (WCM) efficiency and exogenous variables of the Indian manufacturing sector along with its sub-industries that are involved in export activities.Design/methodology/approachPanel regression (fixed effects) was used on a sample of 563 Indian manufacturing firms involved in export activities, covering a time period from 2008 to 2018.FindingsIndustry-wise results showed a significant relation of leverage, net fixed asset ratio, profitability, asset turnover ratio, total asset growth rate and productivity with cash conversion cycle (CCC).Research limitations/implicationsFirstly, having taken a sample from a developing economy, the results of our study may be generalizable only among developing contexts. Secondly, the time period taken in this study (2008–2018) has witnessed several economic fluctuations such as recession and demonetization which might differ for the firms or countries in normal conditions.Practical implicationsAn improved working capital model could advance the firms' performance by reducing the CCC of the firm, thereby creating efficiency in WCM. In addition, the results of this study could be helpful for many stakeholders such as working capital managers, debt holders, investors, financial consultants and others for monitoring the firms.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the existing literature in the relation between WCM efficiency and exogenous variables of the Indian manufacturing firms engaged in the export activities. Moreover, this study is one of the few research studies to investigate this relationship among Indian export firms in different industries, thus filling the gap in similar work done in other countries.


2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 68
Author(s):  
Adrianus Dhimas Setyanto ◽  
Ika Permatasari

AbstractThis study aims to determine the effect of working capital management on firm value. Corporate governance is used as a moderating variable in this study to explore the role of corporate governance in the relationship between working capital management with corporate values. Program participants of Corporate Governance Perception Index (CGPI) are used as a sample during the period from 2003 to 2011 and listed on the Indonesian Stock Exchange (IDX). We were using simple linear regression and the testing of moderating effects were calculated by Moderated Regression Analysis (MRA). The results showed that the working capital management has an influence on the value of the firm. However, corporate governance variables failed to moderate the relationship between working capital management and enterprise value. It shows that companies and investors in the market still lack concern for the program response and Corporate Governance Perception Index (CGPI) as an assessment of the application of the principles of corporate governance that has been done by the company .Keywords: Working Capital Management, Cash Conversion Cycle, Corporate Governance, Firm Values


2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gaurav S. Chauhan ◽  
Pradip Banerjee

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the existence of an optimal or target level of working capital for the Indian manufacturing firms, and whether firms intensely follow the target or not. Design/methodology/approach The paper uses cash conversion cycle as a measure of net working capital and employs partial-adjustment dynamic panel models to test its target-following behavior. Findings The empirical results show that there is no evidence of systematic target-following behavior of working capital for the Indian manufacturing firms. The results hold true even after dividing the sample into four groups depending on the sign and magnitude of deviation. The results further show that lack of target-following tendency is not quite influenced by varying firm-specific characteristics and, therefore, seems to be a systematic feature across firms in India. Research limitations/implications Scarcity of such working capital management studies across emerging economies, facing several financial constraints, limits the comparison of findings. Future studies should be conducted to confirm the results. Practical implications The findings imply that even though an optimal working capital might exist, emerging market firms may not be able to actively pursue it on account of several financial constraints and managerial considerations. Originality/value The study contributes to the scant existing literature on the target-following behavior of working capital management in the Indian manufacturing firms, representing a typical emerging market facing several financial constraints.


Author(s):  
Anna-Maria Talonpoika ◽  
Sari Monto ◽  
Miia Pirttilä ◽  
Timo Kärri

Purpose – The cash conversion cycle (CCC) is widely used in the academic studies of working capital management and supply chain efficiency. The purpose of this paper is to introduce a modification of this measure that takes into account advance payments as a component of operational working capital. Design/methodology/approach – A new measure, the modified cash conversion cycle (mCCC) is introduced and tested with empirical data of companies in Helsinki Stock Exchange. Findings – The mCCC reveals the real efficiency of operational working capital in companies that receive advance payments to a remarkable extent. Research limitations/implications – The mCCC can be used in empirical analysis in academic studies. In this paper, the empirical data are used only for testing the mCCC. The paper concerns received advance payments, but the mCCC can also be extended also to other components of operational working capital ignored by the traditional CCC. Practical implications – The paper offers insights into the variations of CCC for class teachers, and business practitioners, particularly financiers, who deal with operational working capital, cash flow predictions and calculations. Originality/value – There are current items that may have a remarkable effect on operational working capital, but traditionally only inventories, accounts receivable and accounts payable are discussed. The authors argue that also other current items should be taken into account, if they affect the efficiency of operational working capital. The new mCCC is encouraged to be used instead of the CCC when observing working capital management.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 36
Author(s):  
Rafiqul Bhuyan ◽  
Mohammad Sogir Hossain Khandoker ◽  
Noshin Tasneem ◽  
Mahjuja Taznin

We examine the impact of efficient working capital management on market value and profitability. Using secondary data on selected firms from Dhaka Stock Exchange we explore the effects of various working capital components (i.e. cash conversion cycle (CCC), current ratio (CR), current asset to total asset ratio (CATAR), current liabilities to total asset ratio (CLTAR), debt to asset ratio (DTAR), siz,e and growth) to the firm’s performance by looking firm’s value i.e. Tobin’s Q (TQ) and profitability i.e. return on asset (ROA) and return on invested capital (ROIC). Our results show that, for both food and overall manufacturing sectors, there is a significant association between working capital variables and firm’s value & return on assets, but an insignificant association with return on invested capital.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 24-34
Author(s):  
Fairuz Sofia Kaharuddin ◽  
Ahmad Rizal Mazlan

This study investigated the relationship between working capital management and profitability of 94 listed Bumiputera-controlled companies in Malaysia for 2006 until 2012. The underlying theory is the trade-off theory of working capital and cash conversion cycle, and its components are used as measures for working capital management. Findings of the panel data regression reveal that inventory conversion period and receivable collection period are significantly negatively correlated to profitability. This suggests that the shorter the period, the higher the profitability of Bumiputera-controlled companies tends to be. However, the cash conversion cycle is significantly and positively correlated to profitability, suggesting that the longer the cash conversion period, the higher the profitability. The payable collection period is not significantly correlated to profitability. The findings of this study assert that in general, Bumiputera-controlled companies are relatively less efficient in its working capital management, as far as the comparison to previous related studies is concerned.


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