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

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.

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 104-115
Author(s):  
Wasantha Perera ◽  
Pradeep Priyashantha

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.


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 9
Author(s):  
Sorin Anton ◽  
Anca Afloarei Nucu

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between working capital and firm profitability for a sample of 719 Polish listed firms over the period of 2007–2016. The scarcity of empirical evidence for emerging economies and the importance of working capital efficiency motivate the research on the working capital–financial performance relationship. The paper adopts a quantitative approach using different panel data techniques (ordinary least squares, fixed effects, and panel-corrected standard errors models). The empirical results report an inverted U-shape relationship between working capital level and firm profitability, meaning that working capital has a positive effect on the profitability of Polish firms to a break-even point (optimum level). After the break-even point, working capital starts to negatively affect firm profitability. The study brings theoretical and practical contributions. It extends and complements the literature on the field by highlighting new evidence on the non-linear interrelation between working capital management (WCM) and corporate performance in Poland. From the practitioners’ perspective, the results highlight the importance of WCM for firm profitability.


2011 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 71-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meryem Bellouma

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.


Author(s):  
Walter Gachira ◽  
Washington Chiwanzwa ◽  
Dingilizwe Jacob Nkomo ◽  
Runesu Chikore

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.


2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabo Muhammad ◽  
Rabi’U Saminu Jibril ◽  
Usman Sani K. Wambai ◽  
Fatima Bello Ibrahim ◽  
Tjjani Habibu Ahmad

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.


2012 ◽  
Vol 4 (12) ◽  
pp. 730-736 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yusuf Aminu

Working capital management encompasses the overall idea of management of current assets and current liabilities of a business. Whether empirical or conceptual, the discussion have delineated working capital management as that part of business strategy which involves effective management of short term or current assets and liabilities to ensure optimal level and maximization of value. This paper aims to provide an analysis on the concept and propose framework that emphasizes on investigating the impact of management of working capital on the profitability of manufacturing companies listed on the Nigerian stock exchange. The paper proposes four dimensions (variables) as cash management levels, inventory management levels, receivable management, and the trade credit (Accounts payable) as measures of working capital management and the profitability of companies.


Author(s):  
Tarik Hossain

This research aims to analyze the impact of efficient working capital management on the profitability of the manufacturing firm in Bangladesh. Fifty-two manufacturing companies listed with Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) have been selected randomly from 2012 to 2017. Return on Assets (ROA) and Return on Equity (ROE) are used as indicators of profitability, while the inventory conversion period (ICP), the average collection period (ACP), the average payment period (APP), and the Cash Conversion Cycle (CCC) are used as the independent variables which are used as a measurement of working capital management of the firm. Ordinary Least Squares regression models and Pearson's Correlation are used to establish the relationship between working capital management and profitability. The results revealed a significant negative relation between ROA and CCC, ACP; a significant negative relationship exists between ROE and CCC, APP. Manufacturing companies can increase profitability by decreasing the cash conversion cycle, average payment period, and average collection period. It also revealed that ICP is also positively related to ROA and ROE. Therefore, this research concludes that efficiently and effectively managing working capital is very important for increasing manufacturing companies' profitability.


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