Do working capital management practices influence investment and financing patterns of firms?

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahsan Akbar ◽  
Xinfeng Jiang ◽  
Minhas Akbar
Keyword(s):  
Capital Structure ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Capital Management ◽  
Working Capital ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Working Capital Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Investment And Financing ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThe present study aims to investigate the impact of working capital management (WCM) practices on the investment and financing patterns of listed nonfinancial companies in Pakistan for a span of 10 years.Design/methodology/approachThe study is based on secondary financial data of 354 listed nonfinancial Pakistani firms during the period of 2005–2014. The two-step generalized method of moment (GMM) regression estimation technique is employed to ensure the robustness of results.FindingsEmpirical testing reveals that: excessive funds tied up in working capital have a negative impact on the investment portfolio of sample firms. Besides, a negative relationship between change in fixed assets and excess net working capital posits that, eventually, firms use idle resources tied up in short-lived assets to boost their investment activities. Furthermore, larger working capital levels were associated with higher leverage ratio which indicates that firms with inefficient WCM policies have to rely heavily on long-term debt to meet their short-term financing requirements. Additional results indicate that firms that take more time to sell inventory and convert receivables to cash, make more use of debt. Results of cash management models illustrate that cash-rich firms have lower leverage levels which signal the strong financial health and internal revenue generation capability of such firms.Originality/valueThere is a dearth of empirical studies that examine the implications of WCM decisions on a firm's capital structure. Besides, these studies are only confined to how a WCM policy influences the long-term investment activities of a firm. The research contributes to the extant literature by empirically revealing a link between the WCM practices and the firm's long-range investment and financing patterns. Hence, financial managers shall account for the impact of their short-term financial management decisions on the capital structure of the firm.

Working capital management and managerial talent

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nacasius U. Ujah ◽  
Augustine Tarkom ◽  
Collins E. Okafor
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Financial Constraints ◽  
Capital Management ◽  
Working Capital ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Working Capital Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cash Conversion Cycle ◽  
Managerial Talent

PurposeTalented managers arguably remain quintessential to firm value and performance. While the literature offers evidence for the long-term orientation of talented managers, there is a paucity of evidence on the short-term performance of managers. Here, we examine the relationship between managerial talent and working capital management (WCM).Design/methodology/approachThis study primarily employs a panel fixed-effect method controlling for firm-year and firm-industry for non-financial and non-utility firms for the years 1980 through 2016. Also, the authors control of potential bias that may impact the result. These controls include social capital, financial constraints and tests for endogeneity and spurious correlation.FindingsThe authors find the association between managerial talent and WCM to be positive and significant. The results indicate that talented managers have a higher cash conversion cycle. The empirical evidence still holds after controlling for social capital, religiosity and financial constraints. Also, the evidence still holds by employing an interaction term between Tobin's Q as a proxy for investment opportunities and talented managers.Practical implicationsThe finding may lend credence to executive contracts. Human nature, by default, is only vested on a net benefit for self-aggrandization. Self-aggrandization can be evident through structures in managerial contracts. These contracts usually tie consequences to long-term growths. If a benefit is offered based on short-term operational goals, talented managers may do more to the management of working capital.Originality/valueIn the managerial talent literature, talents reflect a holistic picture of one that can succeed in both the short-term and long-term goals of a company. Here, the authors show that talented managers are inefficient in meeting short-term goal – working capital management. Thus, the authors add to the research by providing evidence that talented managers are myopic.

scholarly journals The Impact of Working Capital Management on Profitability: The Case of Small and Medium-Sized Export Companies in Tunisia

2011 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 71-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meryem Bellouma
Keyword(s):  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Capital Management ◽  
Working Capital ◽  
Working Capital Management ◽  
Random Effects Models ◽  
Accounts Receivable ◽  
Cash Conversion Cycle ◽  
Fixed And Random Effects ◽  
Financial Decision ◽  
The Impact

Working capital is an important component in the financial decision of the company. An optimal working capital management is reached through a trade off between profitability and liquidity. This study aims to provide empirical evidence about the effects of working capital management on the profitability of 386 Tunisian export SMEs observed from 2001 to 2008. The results of fixed and random effects models show a negative relationship between corporate profitability and the different working capital components. This reveals that Tunisian export SMEs should shorten their cash conversion cycle by reducing the number of days of accounts receivable and inventories to increase their profitability.

scholarly journals The impact of Working Capital Management on shareholders’ wealth and profitability: evidence from Colombo Stock Exchange

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 104-115
Author(s):  
Wasantha Perera ◽  
Pradeep Priyashantha
Keyword(s):  
Firm Size ◽  
Regression Models ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Least Square ◽  
Capital Management ◽  
Working Capital ◽  
Working Capital Management ◽  
Holding Period ◽  
The Impact

The Working Capital Management (WCM) has an important role for the firm’s success or failure, because it directly affects the overall business health of the firm. This study examined the impact of WCM on profitability and shareholders’ wealth using 50 companies listed in different sectors on the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) for the period from 2010 to 2015. This sample represents 47% of the selected sectors of CSE. The profitability of the company is measured using gross operating profit (GOP) and shareholders wealth measured by Tobin’s Q (TQ) ratio. The WCM is measured using five independent variables namely stock holding period (SHP), debtors’ collection period (DCP), creditors’ settlement period (CSP), cash conversion circle (CCC) and current assets ratio (CAR). Further, three additional variables such as firm size (SIZE), leverage (LEV) and earning yield (EY) are employed as controlling variables to capture the impact of other performance of the companies.The data were analyzed using ordinary least square (OLS) and panel data regression models. These regression models reveal that there is a significant negative relationship between CCC and dependent variables (GOP & TQ). Further, this relationship has been confirmed by the major components of CCC such as SHP, DCP. Firm size also positively and significantly effects on the firm GOP while negatively effects on the TQ. Further, they revealed that there is a significant positive relationship between LEV and TQ. The study finds that the shareholders’ wealth and profitability can be increased through the efficiency of WCM.

scholarly journals Key factors in working capital management in the Brazilian market

2012 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathalie Vicente Nakamura Palombini ◽  
Wilson Toshiro Nakamura
Keyword(s):  
Balance Sheet ◽  
Internal Variables ◽  
Capital Management ◽  
Key Factors ◽  
Working Capital ◽  
Public Companies ◽  
Working Capital Management ◽  
Financing Decisions ◽  
Investment And Financing

Many studies have been conducted in corporate finance regarding long-term investment and financing decisions. However, short-term asset investments play a significant role in the balance sheet of companies. Moreover, financial managers dedicate significant amounts of time and effort to the subject of working capital management, balancing current assets and liabilities. This paper provides insights regarding the key factors of working capital management by exploring the internal variables of a number of companies. This study used data from 2,976 Brazilian public companies from 2001 to 2008, and found that debt level, size and growth rate can affect the working capital management of companies.

Working capital management and firms’ profitability: evidence from emerging Asian countries

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 80-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monica Singhania ◽  
Piyush Mehta
Keyword(s):  
East Asia ◽  
South Asia ◽  
Generalized Method Of Moments ◽  
Asia Pacific ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
Capital Management ◽  
Working Capital ◽  
Working Capital Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact

Purpose Excessive working capital or paucity of the same can impair the profits and health of an organization. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the impact of working capital management (WCM) on the profitability of firms for a sample comprising of non-financial companies in countries of South East Asia, South Asia and East Asia. Design/methodology/approach Analytical modeling has been used to estimate the impact of WCM on profitability with the help of financial data of the companies listed in major indices of the target countries (India, Pakistan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Japan, China, South Korea and Taiwan). The mathematical model presented in the paper has been tested using two-step-generalized method of moments. Findings The study reveals a non-linear relationship between profitability of a firm and WCM for 11 economies of the Asia Pacific region. Research limitations/implications The results are subject to the differences in the market dynamics of different economies (countries). Moreover, the limitations of the specific statistical method used to verify the model apply to the model too. Practical implications The research can be used as a tool by the firms (global as well as local) to ameliorate their performance by understanding the effects of WCM on profitability in different global markets and adjusting their working capital accordingly. Originality/value The research on the impact of WCM on profitability of the firms of South East Asia, South Asia and East Asia is a new effort and tries to make the importance of WCM more luciferous.

scholarly journals Working Capital Management and the Profitability of Non- Financial Firms Listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE)

2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Walter Gachira ◽  
Washington Chiwanzwa ◽  
Dingilizwe Jacob Nkomo ◽  
Runesu Chikore
Keyword(s):  
Firm Value ◽  
Positive Relationship ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Capital Management ◽  
Working Capital ◽  
Working Capital Management ◽  
Financial Firms ◽  
Cash Conversion Cycle ◽  
The Impact

Working capital is essential for the day-to-day operations of a firm. The study examines the impact of working capital management on the profitability of non-financial firms listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE). Using panel data methodology, the direction and extent of the impact of working capital management on profitability is scrutinised. The regression analysis is based on a panel sample of 39 non-financial firms listed on the ZSE from 2009 to 2013, the period under which the Zimbabwean economy has been operating under the multicurrency system. It was found that there is a positive relationship between debtors’ days and firm’s profitability, a negative relationship between creditors’ days and profitability and a positive relationship between firm’s cash conversion cycle and its profitability. There is some negative relationship between current ratio and profitability, while inventory turnover days and profitability are positively related. Debt to asset ratio as a control variable has a significant negative relationship with firm value and profitability. The results of the study show that for the companies included in the sample, there are mixed effects of the components of working capital on firm performance. Managers can thus create value for shareholders by taking note of the existence of such relationships and take measures that enhance firm profitability.

scholarly journals The Effect of Working Capital Management on Corporate Profitability: Evidence from Nigerian Food Product Firms

2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabo Muhammad ◽  
Rabi’U Saminu Jibril ◽  
Usman Sani K. Wambai ◽  
Fatima Bello Ibrahim ◽  
Tjjani Habibu Ahmad
Keyword(s):  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Food Product ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Capital Management ◽  
Working Capital ◽  
Working Capital Management ◽  
Short Term Investment ◽  
The Impact

The paper examines the impact of working capital management on corporate profitability through the periods of 2008 to 2012. The total of seven firms listed on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange was studied, using secondary data generated from annual reports and accounts of the sampled companies and the Nigerian Stock Exchange Fact book. The data were analyzed by means of descriptive statistics and GLS regression analysis using STATA 11. The study finds a positive relationship among Average Collection Period (ACP), Current Ratio (CR) and the size of the firm (LOGSIZE) with Profitability and a negative relationship with Inventory Turnover Period (ITP), Average Payment Period (APP). The paper therefore recommends that cash collected should be re-invested into short-term investment to generate profits and fund left idle in the cash or excessive liquidity is costly and do not lead to profitability.

scholarly journals Working Capital Management Efficiency of Cement Sector of Pakistan

2011 ◽  
Vol 2 (5) ◽  
pp. 223-235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Talat Afza
Keyword(s):  
Efficiency Index ◽  
Total Efficiency ◽  
Target Level ◽  
Capital Management ◽  
Working Capital ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Working Capital Management ◽  
Financial Decisions ◽  
Capital Efficiency

The corporate finance literature has traditionally focused on the study of long-term financial decisions. Researchers have particularly examined investments, capital structure, dividends or company valuation decisions, among other topics. However, short-term assets and liabilities are important components of total assets and needs to be carefully analyzed. Management of these short-term assets and liabilities warrants a careful investigation since the working capital management plays an important role for the firm’s profitability and risk as well as its value. It requires continuous management to maintain proper level in various components of working capital i.e. cash, receivables, inventory and payables etc. The present study is an attempt to evaluate the efficiency of the working capital management of cement sector of Pakistan for the period 1988-2008. Instead of employing the traditional ratios; working capital efficiency has been measured in terms of utilization index, performance index and total efficiency index as suggested by Bhattacharya (1997). This paper also tests the speed of achieving the target level of efficiency by an individual firm during the period of study using industry norms as the target level of efficiency. Findings of the study indicate that the cement sector as a whole did perform well during the study period.

Working Capital Management, Macroeconomic Impacts, and Firm Profitability: Evidence from Indian SMEs

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 144-158
Author(s):  
Ajaya Kumar Panda ◽  
Swagatika Nanda ◽  
Pradiptarathi Panda
Keyword(s):  
Inventory Management ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Least Square ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Capital Management ◽  
Working Capital ◽  
Working Capital Management ◽  
Firm Profitability ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Impact

The present study investigates the relationship between working capital management and SME profitability. It also analyzes the impact of macroeconomic impulses on firm profitability through efficient management of working capital in the case of Indian small and medium scale enterprises over the time period spanning from 2010 to 2017 using Feasible Generalized Least Square (FGLS) regression models. The study concludes the negative relationship of account receivables together with a positive relationship of inventories and account payables with SME profitability. It implies the firm managers can maximize SME’s profitability by converting the credit sales to cash as early as possible, by increasing the days of accounts payable and following a conservative inventory management strategy. Changes in economic growth and commercial bank advances to small scale industries are the key macroeconomic determinants that are impacting SME profitability. The results from this paper may guide the firm managers to shape their working capital management strategies to maximize profitability. Policymakers may find the study interesting to identify the macroeconomic parameters that significantly influence Indian SMEs.

Working capital management and firm’s valuation, profitability and risk

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 191-204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben Le
Keyword(s):  
Firm Performance ◽  
Panel Data ◽  
Emerging Market ◽  
Firm Valuation ◽  
Capital Management ◽  
Working Capital ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Working Capital Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of working capital management on firm valuation, profitability and risk.Design/methodology/approachThe paper uses a panel data set of 497 firms covering the period 2007 to 2016. The authors test the effects of working capital management on firm valuation, profitability and risk using the panel data methodology that includes firm and year fixed effects regressions.FindingsThe authors find a significantly negative relationship between net working capital (NWC) and firm valuation, profitability and risk. The results suggest that, in managing working capital, firm managers must make a trade-off between their objectives for profitability and risk control. Working-capital management is of particular importance in firms with less access to capital; it is also important when firms are expanding their investments during periods of economic recovery.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the literature in several ways. First, to my knowledge, it provides the most comprehensive investigation, to date, on the relationship between working capital management and firm valuation, profitability and risk in an emerging market. Second, this study documents the existence of an optimal level of NWC in an emerging market. Third, firm performance, as measured in both market and accounting value, can be improved with efficient working capital management. Finally, the study includes the impact of the business cycle in an analysis of the effects of working capital management on firm performance.

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