Pecking Order Theory of Capital Structure: Empirical Evidence for Listed SMEs in India

2021 ◽  
pp. 097226292110572
Author(s):  
Kuldeep Singh ◽  
Deepa Pillai ◽  
Shailesh Rastogi

The purpose of our study is to empirically examine the relevance of pecking order theory (POT) in explaining the capital structure choices made by the listed small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in emerging capital markets. To do so, we use panel data regression on five years of data from 2015 to 2019 of 82 listed SMEs in India. In pursuit of robust results to test the theory, the study uses three econometric models: pooled ordinary least squares (pooled OLS), fixed effects (FE) regression and two-stage least squares (2SLS). Profitability, liquidity, growth, tangibility and non-debt tax shield are the independent variables, size is the controlled variable and financial leverage is the dependent variable. The pooled OLS and FE models provide biased estimates due to the presence of endogeneity. The 2SLS estimates overcome endogeneity in the explanatory variable non-debt tax shield by using tangibility as an instrument. The 2SLS provides a substantial improvement over pooled OLS and FE results. The results indicate that the explanatory variables, namely, profitability, liquidity, non-debt tax shield and size, support the POT. However, the growth and tangibility do not support the POT for listed SMEs. Overall, the results of our study are inclined towards the POT, suggesting that ease of access takes priority in financing decisions by SMEs. Careful consideration of country-specific factors will allow the results to be generalized to other emerging capital markets.

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Merve Gizem Cevheroglu-Acar

The primary aim of this study is to identify the firm-specific determinants of the capital structure of non-financial firms in Turkey and to test whether the determinants offered by financial theory are able to provide convincing explanations for non-financial firms in Turkey. Because the relationship between liquidity and capital structure is not well examined for Turkish market in the context of capital structure theories, we include liquidity as independent variable in our models in addition to profitability, growth, non-debt tax shields, size, tangibility, and risk. We use panel regression as econometric model and cover the period from 2009 to 2016. Our results show that profitability, non-debt tax shield, size, tangibility, and liquidity are significant determinants of the capital structure, size being the most robust one. On the other hand, growth and volatility are not significantly related with the leverage. Moreover, we conclude that capital structure decisions of non-financial firms in Turkey are mostly consistent with the hypothesis of pecking order theory rather than trade-off theory.


Author(s):  
Hồ Xuân Thủy ◽  
Nguyễn Thị Huyền Trang

This paper investigates the factors influencing capital structure of the companies listed on the Hanoi Stock Exchange (HNX) during 2011-2018. Factors tested included non-debt tax shield, firm size, tangible fixed assets structure, and profitability based on previous studies and the two prominent capital structure theories namely the trade-off theory and the pecking-order theory. We used the variable financial leverage (LEV) to measure capital structure. The analysis employs multiple linear panel regression models in examining factors influencing capital structure, the random effect model (REM) obtained by table data processing was found to be consistent with the study data. Our results revealed that profitability and non-debt tax shield had a negative impact on capital structure. On the other hand, firm size exhibited a positive impact whilst the effect of tangible fixed assets was statistically insignificant. Amongst all tested factors, non-debt tax shield was shown to exert the greatest influence on capital structure of companies. We conclude that the factors influencing capital structure of the companies listed on the Hanoi Stock Exchange are mostly consistent with the hypothesis of trade-off theory rather than pecking-order theory. Our results support the trade-off theory because large firms are more likely to borrow to greater benefits from the tax shield. The study greatly contributes towards the enrichment of empirical evidence on the factors influencing capital structure and helps the management with planning, making properly informed decisions to improve the firm performance.


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.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 278-293
Author(s):  
Yee Peng Chow

This study investigates the determinants of corporate capital structure of various sectors in the Bursa Malaysia Main Market with the aim to establish whether the determinants of capital structure can be explained by either the trade-off or the pecking order theory. This study also examines whether there are any differences between the regressions for any two sectors or not. This study applies both the ordinary least squares (OLS) and the seemingly unrelated regression (SUR) estimators to estimate the leverage models, and subsequently determines the efficiency of each estimator. The results indicate that profitability, asset tangibility, growth opportunities, and firm size are important determinants of corporate capital structure. However, the signs of the regression coefficients suggest that the trade-o and pecking order theories are complementary. Moreover, the importance of some of these determinants differs across sectors. In most cases of the regression analyses between two sectors, the SUR estimator is found to be more efficient in explaining the determinants of capital structure among the various sectors. Hence, this study concludes that the SUR method could serve as a useful alternative methodology for capital structure research.


This study was conducted with the aim to examine the relevance of different financing theories namely Agency Theory, Trade-Off Theory and Pecking Order Theory to explain capital structure choices among firms in “Access, Certainty, Efficiency” (ACE) Market of Bursa Malaysia. The ACE Market is the financing source for the high-growth and technology requirements of middle-sized firms. The literature on debt policy decision making in the ACE market have been scant, leading the scholars to realize the necessity of performing more studies in this field. To further explain this issue, this study performed a quantitative analysis on a panel data sample of 60 ACE firms from 2005 to 2016. Three proxies for leverage namely total, long-term and short-term debts were examined based on the total assets and equity in six regression models. From seven variables examined in this study, findings indicated a significant relationship between warrant and debt in all models. In addition, liquidity, firm size, profitability and leverage showed significant relationship in all the models except for long-term debt. However, reputation, non-debt tax shield and interest tax shield were seen significant in some models. Trade-off Theory and Pecking Order Theory can jointly clarify determinants of firms’ capital structure in the ACE Market.


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.


Author(s):  
Poornima BG ◽  
Pushpender Kumar

Fast Moving Consumers Goods (FMCG) sector is the fastest and the fourth largest sector of the Indian economy. This study attempts to identify the critical factors affecting the financing decisions of 15 FMCG companies using panel framework and tries to investigate whether the factors considered provide convincing explanation as per the capital structure models like peking order theory, trade-off theory and Agency theory developed over a period of time. The data are collected from CMIE Prowess database for the period 2008 to 2019. The variables considered are profitability, size, non-debt tax shield, tangibility, uniqueness, liquidity and origin. It is found that Pooled OLS is the appropriate model for explaining the factors influencing the short-term debt, long-term debt and total debt as the dependent variables. It is evident that the short-term debt of the company is influenced by profitability, non-debt tax shield and liquidity of the company; the long-term debt is influenced by profitability, tangibility and origin of the company; and the total debt is affected by profitability, size and liquidity of the company. The factors which are significant confirm to the expected behavior with respect to pecking order theory of capital structure.


2013 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Syazwan Ab Talib ◽  
Lim Rubin ◽  
Vincent Khor Zhengyi

This is a preliminary study developed to explore the determinants of capital structure of Shariah-compliant firms listed in Bursa Malaysia. This study is primarily motivated by the issue of the determinants still being inconclusive in the area of capital structure. The study is performed using the static models namely Pool Ordinary Least Square, Fixed Effect and Random Effect Model. Empirical analysis on the determinants reveals that country specific factor which is GDP and sector specific factor which is industry concentration are also significant in influencing the corporate financing decisions in this country along with firm specific factors such as efficiency, bankruptcy risk, profitability, tangibility, liquidity and size of the firm. The findings revealed that results are sensitive to models employed in the study. Nevertheless, the applicability of capital structure theories such as the trade-off theory, agency theory and pecking order theory diverge across sectors in Malaysia. The pecking order theory and agency theory are found to be the dominant theories governing the corporate financing decision in the country as well. It indicates strong evidence of hierarchy practised in firms’ financing decision. The finding on agency theory being dominant justifies the function of short-term debt as a controlling mechanism to mitigate the agency problem arises within firms across sectors. 


GIS Business ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 29-47
Author(s):  
Vibha Tripathi

The study tries to investigate the key determinants of capital structure of leading automobile companies and the Automobile Industry in India. The study also tracks the theory implications, i.e. trade off vs. pecking order in these firms and the industry in general. An attempt is to see, if individually each sample company and the whole industry are influenced by the same determinants of capital structure. Pooled ordinary least squares and panel data econometric techniques such as fixed effect models are used to investigate the most significant determinants that affect the capital structure choice of 10 leading companies categorized as BSE Auto Top 100 and the Automobile Industry as a whole for a period of 14 years from 2000–2001 to 2013–2014. The study reveals some interesting facts and results. Multiple regression analysis reveals that while profitability and size are significant determinants in most of the leading companies; NDTS, Growth, and Debt service coverage ratio are not significant for these companies. While the Panel data results of the Automobile Industry as a whole reveals that profitability is the only significant determinant having negative relationship with debt equity ratio; and the other variables are insignificant. Also individual companies coefficient results shows implications of mix of pecking order and trade off theories while the panel data results of the whole Industry strongly supports the Pecking order theory.


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