Testing the pecking order theory of capital structure in an Islamic legal system: the case of Saudi Arabia

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Moncef Guizani ◽  
Ahdi Noomen Ajmi

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine whether the basic premises according to the pecking order theory (POT) provide an explanation for the capital structure mix of firms operating under Islamic principles. Design/methodology/approach Pooled ordinary least squares, fixed and random effects regressions were performed to test the POT applying data from a sample of 66 Islamic-compliant firms listed on Saudi Stock Market over the period 2006–2016. Findings The results show that sale-based instruments (Murabahah, Ijara) track the financial deficit quite closely followed by equity financing and as a last alternative to finance deficit, Islamic-compliant firms issue Sukuk. In the crisis period, these firms seem more reliant on equity, then on sale-based instruments and on Sukuk as last option. The study findings also indicate that the cumulative financing deficit does not wipe out the effects of conventional variables, although it is empirically significant. This provides no support for the POT attempts by Saudi Islamic-compliant firms Research limitations/implications This research contributes to the theory of capital structure in re-validating the findings of a previous theoretical and empirical study. It helps understand the capital structure of Islamic-compliant firms in comparison with conventional firms. It highlights some areas where further research on topics related to capital structure of Islamic-compliant firms is needed. The failure of the POT to explain Saudi firms’ financing choices strongly pushed researchers to test the market timing theory for the Saudi Stock Market. Further research studies could re-examine the trade-off theory in the absence of interest tax shield as in an Islamic economy. Practical implications From a managerial perspective, this research can serve firm executive managers in their financing decisions to add value to the companies. Furthermore, policymakers, bankers and standard-setting organizations should undertake more collective work to simplify the process of issuing Islamic financial instruments including Sukuk. Moreover, the Saudi Government has to encourage the private sector to be more innovative in developing products and services that are in line with Sharia principles. Finally, to attract investors, the Capital Market Authority has to encourage transaction, efficiency and liquidity of Islamic financial instruments. Originality/value The proposed study presents several originalities. First, it explores the implications of relevant Islamic principles on financing preferences of Saudi firms. Second, the present study enables us to investigate what the sudden abundance of liquidity, generated by the record levels of oil prices, implied for the firms’ financing behavior. Finally, it provides further evidence on the impact of financial crisis on the firms’ capital structure choice in a period of considerable slowdown in the world.

Kybernetes ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 46 (06) ◽  
pp. 947-965 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xavier Camara-Turull ◽  
María Ángeles Fernández-Izquierdo ◽  
M. Teresa Sorrosal-Forradellas

Purpose This paper aims to analyses the capital structure of the Spanish chemical industry during the period between 1999 and 2013, with a twofold objective. First, to determine whether the assumptions of pecking order theory are fulfilled throughout the study's timeframe. Second, by using data covering the years before the crisis and the worst years thereof, this study shows how the crisis has affected the capital structure of the companies included in this sample. Design/methodology/approach A particular kind of unsupervised neural network, self-organizing maps, is applied. This methodology allows to cluster firms avoiding the need to establish relationships between the different variables involved in the problem beforehand. Findings Companies are clustered into groups with different degrees of accomplishment of the pecking order theory. The hypothesis about risk is the one that experience a greater variation in the period before and after the crisis. Moreover, companies' capital structure has been lightly disrupted by the crisis. Originality/value The originality of this paper lies in applying an unprecedented methodology to the problem of capital structure. Therefore, the capital structure problem can be approached without setting any function relationship previously.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Barnali Chaklader ◽  
B. Padmapriya

PurposeBuilding on pecking order theory, this study seeks to understand the various financial factors that influence top management's decision regarding the company’s capital structure. The authors attempt to understand and analyse whether the capital structure of mid‐ and small‐cap firms is affected by cash surplus scaled to total assets. Along with other determinants of capital structure such as liquidity, profitability, tangibility, market capitalisation and age, this is considered one of the major factors. Cash surplus is calculated using data from the cash flow statement. It is defined as the difference in cash from operating activities and that from investing activities and is scaled to total assets. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to regress cash surplus scaled to total assets and other determinants over leverage to examine the impact on mid‐ and small‐cap firms. The pecking order theory was found to hold for firms earning cash surplus.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from the CMIE Prowess database of all firms listed on the NIFTY Small cap 250 index and NIFTY Midcap 150 index. The data of non-financial firms belonging to the midcap and small-cap sector, listed on the National Stock Exchange of India from 2012 to 2019 were considered. After cleaning the data, an unbalanced panel of 171 companies totalling 1,362 observations for the NIFTY Small-cap 250 index and another panel of 96 companies with 761 observations for the NIFTY Midcap 150 index was created. Panel data regression analysis was used to determine the effect of cash surplus scaled to total assets on the firms' capital structure.FindingsThis study demonstrates how small- and midcap firms' behave differently in taking capital structure decisions. Pecking order theory was found to hold for firms earning cash surplus as a proportion of total assets (Surplusta).Research limitations/implicationsThe study was conducted through data available on secondary sources and database. The study can be better conducted by conducting a primary survey too. Further study may be conducted with a blend of secondary and questionnaire method. The results can be compared to check the similarity in findings.Practical implicationsManagers can benefit from the findings when making decisions on long- and short-term loans. This study can help managers in terms of the financial variables that have a role to play in the financial leverage of the company. The decision of the managers of midcap or small-cap firms would be different. Factors influencing short- and long-term borrowings are different. Academics can discuss whether there is any difference in the influence of capital structure variables of small- and midcap companies and the reasons for such differences. Judicious decisions on capital structure will create wealth for the shareholders as the right decision about leverage would result in a proper cost of capital. The findings also add to the existing literature on the Pecking order theory.Social implicationsAcademics can discuss whether there is any difference in the influence of capital structure variables of small- and midcap companies and the reasons for such differences.Originality/valueThe study extends the existing literature by demonstrating that the capital structure of mid and small-cap firms is affected by cash surplus scaled to total assets. The pecking order theory was found to hold for firms earning cash surplus. This study can inform the practitioners about the financial variables that have a role to play in the company's financial leverage. As the results and significance of the variables of the midcap or small-cap firms are different, the decisions of the managers of these firms would be separate for the capital structure of their firms. The study also infers that the factors influencing short and long-term borrowings are different. The study determines whether managers' decision-making in such companies is different in terms of raising short- and long-term loans. The study attempts to guide managers in considering the different variables that would influence their capital structure decisions, particularly the decision to include debt in the capital. Financial variables need not be of equal importance for managers belonging to small- and midcap companies.


2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 267-277 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barnali Chaklader ◽  
Deepak Chawla

This study contributes to the capital structure literature by investigating the determinants of capital structure of firms listed in NSE CNX 500. The period of the study is 2008–2015, the period starting from the year of global slowdown. This study is an attempt to study the capital structure of firms listed in National Stock Exchange in the post liberalization period. The objectives of the study are to study the impact of independent variables such as growth, profitability, tangibility, liquidity, size and non-debt tax shield on financial leverage and also to find out whether the results are in line with the pecking order theory or the trade-off theory of capital structure. Size is taken as a control variable. Our study supports the trade-off theory for all variables such as growth, profitability, size tangibility and non-debt tax shield. Liquidity is the only independent variable that goes in accordance with the pecking order theory. Thus, this study is more inclined towards the trade-off theory.


2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 123-144
Author(s):  
Muncef Guizani

This article examines whether the basic premises according to the pecking order theory (POT) provide an explanation for the capital structure choice of firms operating under Islamic principles. Random effect regressions were performed to test the POT applying data from a sample of 93 Islamic-compliant firms listed on Saudi stock market over the period of 2006 to 2016. The results show that sale-based instruments (Murabahah, Ijara) track the financial deficit quite closely followed by equity financing and as a last alternative to finance deficit, Islamic-compliant firms’ issue Sukuk. In the crisis period, these firms seem more reliant on equity, then on sale-based instrument and on Sukuk as last option. The study findings also indicate that the cumulative financing deficit does not wipe out the effects of conventional variables, although it is empirically significant. This provides no support for the POT attempts by Saudi Islamic-compliant firms.


2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Moncef Guizani

AbstractThe purpose of this paper is to examine whether or not the basic premises according to the pecking order theory provide an explanation for the capital structure mix of firms operating under Islamic principles. Pooled OLS and random effect regressions were performed to test the pecking order theory applying data from a sample of 66 Islamic firms listed on Kingdom of Saudi Arabia stock market over the period 2006–2016. The results show that sale-based instruments (Murabahah, Ijara) track the financial deficit quite closely followed by equity financing and as the last alternative to finance deficit, Islamic firms issue Sukuk. In the crisis period, these firms seem more reliant on equity, then on sale-based instrument and on Sukuk as last option. The study findings also indicate that the cumulative financing deficit does not wipe out the effects of conventional variables, although it is empirically significant. This provides no support for the pecking order theory attempted by Saudi Islamic firms. This research highlights the capital structure choice of firms operating under Islamic principles. It explores the implication of the relevant Islamic principles on corporate financing preferences. It can serve firm executive managers in their financing decisions to add value to the companies.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 18
Author(s):  
Marcelo Rabelo Henrique ◽  
Sandro Braz Silva ◽  
Antônio Saporito ◽  
Sérgio Roberto da Silva

The present investigation refers to the determinants of the capital structure, using the technique of multiple regression through Panel Data of open capital companies in the stock exchanges of Argentina, Brazil and Chile, in order to know the behavior of determinants of the capital structure in relation to Trade-Off Theory (TOT) and Pecking Order Theory (POT). The POT offers the existence of a hierarchy in the use of sources of resources, while the TOT considers the existence of a target capital structure that would be pursued by the company. Sixteen accounting variables were used, in which five are dependent (related to indebtedness) and eleven are independent variables (explaining the determinants of the capital structure). It is observed that, with the use of the Panel Data, the determinants that seem to influence in a more accentuated way the levels of debt of the companies are: current liquidity, tangibility, return to shareholders, return of assets, sales growth, asset growth, market-to-book and business risk measured by the volatility of benefits. Suggestions for future research include the use of Panel Data to analyze other factors that may influence indebtedness, mainly taxes and dividends, as well as a deeper analysis of factors that may influence the speed of adjustment towards the supposed objective level.


2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 113-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luís Pacheco ◽  
Fernando Tavares

The main objective of this article is to study the capital structure determinants of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the hospitality sector and how this can influence their level of indebtedness. Using panel data methodology and considering a sample of 43 Portuguese hotels, the authors study the capital structure determinants between 2004 and 2013. The study examines the indebtedness level in light of the two main theories – the Trade-off theory and the Pecking Order theory. The hospitality sector was chosen because of its importance in the Portuguese economy and because this particular sector has hardly been studied. In addition to total indebtedness, the authors extend the literature by analysing the differences between short-term and long-term indebtedness. The results obtained suggest that profitability, assets tangibility, firm dimension, total liquidity and risk are key factors affecting the capital structure of hospitality sector SMEs, while growth, other tax benefits and age were not deemed relevant. These results allow us to conclude that Trade-off and Pecking Order theories should not be considered in isolation to explain the capital structure of hospitality sector SMEs.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcelo Rabelo Henrique ◽  
Sandro Braz Silva ◽  
Antonio Saporito

PurposeThe article consists of analyzing the behavior of the determinants of the capital structure of Chilean companies between 2007 and 2016. The objective of this study was achieved through a typology of research based on bibliographic, documentary, exploratory and explanatory, considering annual financial reports from Economática in the chosen period.Design/methodology/approachAs this is a research study with a quantitative approach, the statistical tools used were descriptive analysis, Pearson correlation, variance inflation factor (VIF) and panel regression.FindingsThe results show that Chilean companies (240) have higher and costly long-term debt. These companies have high averages in current liquidity, return to shareholders, growth in sales and assets and market-to-book (MTB). Long-term debt was highlighted with an explanatory power of 85%. Current liquidity was highlighted as being significant in most of the indebtedness proposed in the survey, failing to register brands like this in expensive short-term and long-term indebtedness. It is noticed that flip flops companies are more prone to the pecking order theory (POT). The gap occupied by this study is linked to research involving South American countries, especially the Chilean market, and the determinants of the capital structure.Originality/valueAs future research, it is suggested to include other types of variables related to indebtedness and the same action for its determinants, in addition to the speed technique of adjusting corporate debts.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 79-104
Author(s):  
Francisco Javier Vásquez Tejos ◽  
Hernan Pape Larre

This article aims to determine if the capital structure of Latin American companies in the emerging markets of Brazil, Chile, Mexico, and Peru, are managed according to the market timing theory or the pecking order theory. The analysis was based on a non-probabilistic sample of 170 companies, with annual data, from an unbalanced panel, in the period 2010-2018. Regressions were applied with the fixed and random effects method. The results do not show significant evidence indicating that Latin American companies comply with the pecking order theory. Furthermore, there is also no definitive evidence that companies benefit from low share prices to issue capital or from debt issuance in the face of high stock market prices. There are signs that they follow a blend of several theories, which would indicate their characteristics in the capital structure of Latin American companies.


2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Md. Farhan Imtiaz ◽  
Khaled Mahmud ◽  
Avijit Mallik

<p>The objectives of this paper are to determine the significant factors that affect the capital structure of listed pharmaceutical firms in Bangladesh and to test the capital structure theories. To achieve the intended objectives a panel dataset including 8 major pharmaceutical firms were taken over the time period from 2009 to 2013. The collected data were analyzed by employing correlated panels corrected standard error model using six variables i.e. profitability, tangibility, growth, size, liquidity and operating leverage. Among the 6 variables tangibility, profitability and operating leverage were found to be statistically significant determinants of capital structure. Profitability, tangibility, growth and operating leverage are negatively related to the capital structure while size and liquidity are positively related to the capital structure of the pharmaceutical firms of Bangladesh. The empirical analysis finds that the static trade-off theory and the pecking order theory are the most dominant capital structure theories for the pharmaceutical firms of Bangladesh. These factors must be considered by the financial manager to determine the appropriate capital structure for the company to maximize value of the firm.</p>


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