scholarly journals The effect of working capital management on profitability: a case of listed manufacturing firms in South Africa

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 336-346 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason Kasozi

Working capital management plays a pivotal role in enhancing the operational efficiency of firms and their ultimate profitability. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the trends in working capital management and its impact on the financial performance of listed manufacturing firms on the Johannesburg Securities Exchange (JSE). A panel data methodology was used with different regression estimators to analyze this relationship based on an unbalanced panel of 69 manufacturing firms listed during the period 2007–2016. The findings revealed that the average collection period and the average payment period are negative and statistically significant for profitability, implying that firms which efficiently manage their accounts receivable and those that pay their creditors on time perform better than those that do not. Additionally, a positive statistically significant relationship between the number of days in inventory and profitability was supported suggesting that firms which stock-up and maintain their inventory levels suffer less from stock-outs and avoid challenges of securing financing when needed. This increases their operational efficiency and ensures profitability in the long run. It could not be ascertained whether a shorter or longer cash conversion cycle enhances firm profitability, since findings to support this premise were weak. However, it was observed that manufacturing firms are on average, carrying lot of debt in their capital structures. The present study contributes to existing literature by presenting one of the very recent findings on this topic while simultaneously testing the validity of recent local and international methodologies, in order to inform policy change.

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 81
Author(s):  
Manar Moffadi Al-Mohareb

This study investigates the impact of working capital management and its components on profitability as a practical aspect, and how is compatible with the theoretical aspect. Besides, it examines other financial factors that may affect profitability by using a sample of Jordanian manufacturing firms listed in the Amman Stock Exchange for the period (2016-2018). Theoretically, manufacturing firms that have been studied have current assets over half of their total assets. Therefore, the working capital management role will be clearer on firm profitability.Practically, the results indicate that there is a significant relationship between the cash conversion cycle, which is considered as a proxy of working capital management, and profitability of the manufacturing firms. This provides an opportunity to create value for shareholders by decreasing receivable accounts and inventory, enhancing the profitability of the firms and reducing the collection period and by adopting effective credit policy.


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.


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.


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.


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.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2(I)) ◽  
pp. 27-34
Author(s):  
Akinleye G. T. ◽  
ADEBOBOYE Roseline

This study assessed working capital management and performance of listed manufacturing firms in Nigeria 20 firms were sampled, over 10 years. The study employed static data analyses and panel Granger causality test. Result showed that average collection period exerts insignificant negative effect on return on capital employed of the sampled firms, while average collection period also exerts insignificant negative effect on earnings per share of the sampled firms. The result further showed that, average payment period exerts insignificant positive effect on return on capital employed of the sampled firms, but average payment period exerts insignificant negative effect on earnings per share of the sampled firms. The study concluded that, average collection period and average payment exert insignificant effect on return on capital employed of listed manufacturing firms in Nigeria, also; average collection period and average payment period exert insignificant effect on earnings per share of listed manufacturing firms in Nigeria. Hence manufacturing firms in Nigeria should objectively manage average collection period and also maintain a consistent improvement in return on capital employed and earnings per share of listed manufacturing firms in Nigeria.


2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Munawar Shabbir ◽  

Manufacturing is third largest sector of Pakistan's economy. The manufacturing firms convert raw material to finished goods that is useful for people. The whole process (raw material to end product) requires huge amount of working capital. Any anomaly in working capital management directly effects on performance, profitability and value of firm. The present study explores impact of working capital management on profitability as well as on value of firm. The study collects random sample of 30 manufacturing firms registered on Pakistan Stock Exchange for twelve years (2005 to 2016). The regression models were estimated using Generalized Method of Moments. The results showed profitability and value of firms decrease with increase in receivable and inventory turnover because delay in receivables or sale of inventory enhance financing needs for working capital. Liquidity contribute largely in increase profitability as compared to value of firm. However, some variables showed partial results for both models for example profitability increased with rise in growth and cash conversion cycle. Value of firm was decreased with delay in accounts payable turnover because it cased distrust of supplier and investors. We expected size will increase profitability and value but contrary results expressed decline in both. The research findings suggest firms in Pakistan should focus on efficient working capital management for better profitability and value addition of firm.


2013 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 520-534 ◽  
Author(s):  
Omo Aregbeyen

The efficiency of working capital management (WCM) has implications for firms’profitability. This paper empirically investigates the effects of WCM on the profitability of a sample of 48 large manufacturing firms quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) for the period 1993 to 2005. It is aimed at filling the gaps in a previous study and contribute to expanding and enriching the literature particularly on Nigeria and at large. The analysis examined the responses of the firms’ profitability to WCM and a number of augmenting factors. Profitability was alternatively measured by gross operating profit (GOI), net operating income (NOI) and return on assets (ROA). Likewise, WCM was measured by the average collection period (ACP), average pay period (APP), inventory turnover days (ITID) and comprehensively by the cash conversion cycle (CCC). The results indicate that the firms’ have been inefficient with WCM and caused significant reductions in profitability. The paper concludes that improving the efficiency of WCM is essential and recommends that manufacturing firms in Nigeria should shorten the ACP, APP, ITID and reduce their CCCs.


Author(s):  
Nadeem Iqbal ◽  
Naveed Ahmad ◽  
Zeeshan Riaz

In this paper secondary data is used for analysis of working capital on profitability. In this research paper we take working capital as independent variable and net operating profit as dependent variable. We have found a significant negative relationship between net operating profitability and the average collection period, inventory turnover in days, average payment period and cash conversion cycle for a sample of Pakistani firms listed on Karachi stock exchange. Previous theoretical research predicts negative relationship between cash conversion cycle and corporate profitability. The results of regression indicate that the coefficient of account receivable is negative; that is, the increase or decrease in average collection period wills significantly affect the profitability of the firm. According to inter-item correlation matrix the relationship of account receivables, account payables and inventory with profit shows positive relationship but cash conversion cycle, financial debt and financial assets shows negative relationship with profitability. Inventory shows the positive relationship with dependent variable which proves that working capital management has a positive effect on firm’s probability.


2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 477-486
Author(s):  
Adegbola Olubukola Otekunrin ◽  
Tony Ikechukwu Nwanji ◽  
Gabriel Damilola Fagboro ◽  
Johnson Kolawole Olowookere ◽  
Oladipo Adenike

This study examined the impact of working capital management on the profitability of selected quoted agricultural and agro-allied companies (from 2012 to 2016) in Nigeria. Secondary data were extracted from eighteen quoted agricultural and agro-allied companies in Nigeria, four of which are agricultural companies out of the twenty-three in Nigeria. Descriptive research design and regression analysis were used. Working capital management was measured using the trade receivables collection period, trade payables, payment period, inventory turnover period, and cash conversion cycle, while profit before interest and tax measured profitability. This study found that working capital management and profitability are related to the agriculture and agro-allied sector in Nigeria. The result shows the trade receivables collection period and profitability are negatively related. The result also shows the trade payables payment period and profitability are positively related. The result shows that the inventory turnover period and profitability are related, the cash conversion cycle and profitability are positively related. The conclusion is that working capital management and profitability are related. If the management of firms takes efficient and effective decisions in managing the company’s working capital, all things being equal, the maximization of the firm’s profitability, value, and shareholders’ wealth can be guaranteed. Consequently, agency costs asserted by agency theory would be eliminated automatically. AcknowledgmentAll researchers and non-researchers that contributed to this paper are highly appreciated.


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