scholarly journals Factors that Determine the Capital Structure: An Empirical Study on Low-cost Airlines

2018 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 227-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kasım Kiracı ◽  
Nurhan Aydin

Abstract The purpose of this study is to identify the factors that determine the capital structure of low-cost airlines. Accordingly, it is aimed to test the factors that determine the capital structure in low-cost airlines in the context of capital structure theories. In the study, 15 airline companies, which had continuous financial data during the 2004-2015 period, were examined empirically. Panel data analysis was used as a method in the study. Findings of the study show that low-cost airlines generally operate based on the trade-off theory while borrowing in the short-term and based on the pecking order theory while borrowing in the long-term.

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.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (16) ◽  
pp. 4803
Author(s):  
Monika Wieczorek-Kosmala ◽  
Joanna Błach ◽  
Iwona Gorzeń-Mitka

This paper investigates the factors that determine the profitability of non-listed energy firms from four central European countries: Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. We apply the regression analysis, on a large panel of firm-year observations for the 2015–2019 timespan, to verify the hypothesis on the inversed relationship between leverage and profitability of the companies performing in the energy sector. Our results support the inversed relationship for debt in total and long-term debt, which are consistent with the assumptions of the pecking order theory. However, for short-term debt, we have found a direct relationship, which confirms the assumptions of the trade-off theory of capital structure. Our work contributes to the existing debate on the interplay between financial leverage and profitability, by providing evidence for a large panel of non-listed firms, from a single sector (energy)-oriented perspective.


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.


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.


Author(s):  
João Lussuamo ◽  
Zélia Serrasqueiro

Abstract The objective of this study was to analyze the determining factors that explain the capital structure decisions of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the province of Cabinda, Angola. In this study, debt maturity was also analyzed and, therefore, total indebtedness was broken down into short, medium, and long-term debt ratios. This study is motivated the poor number of studies on the determinants of the capital structure of SMEs in developing countries, more specifically in Cabinda, Angola. This research is relevant for Corporate Finance, particularly regarding the capital structure of SMEs located in a developing country like Angola. Also, it corroborates previous studies on the applicability of the principles of the pecking-order theory to SMEs in developed countries. This research present contributions to Corporate Finance, as it identifies the determinants of the capital structure of SMEs in a developing country - considering the debt maturity -, through the analysis of total debt ratios-, short-, medium- and long-term debt. Based on a sample of 73 SMEs for the period between 2011 and 2016, we used panel data models (pooled OLS, fixed and random effects). The results of this study show that tangibility, age, liquidity, and non-debt tax shield are determining factors in the decisions of the capital structure of SMEs in the province of Cabinda, Angola. Furthermore, they suggest that these firms follow the principles of pecking-order theory in capital structure decisions. The research contributes to increase studies in Corporate Finance, particularly concerning the determinants of the capital structure of SMEs located in a developing country.


2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tharmalingam Pratheepan ◽  
Y. K. Weerakon Banda

This research examines the determinants of capital structure of selected listed companies in Sri Lanka. The capital structure of 55 companies listed in Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) is empirically examined using the fixed effects model. Based on the findings of the panel data analysis during the period of 2003-2012, Profitability exhibits statistically significant of inverse relationship with leverage while firm size and growth shows statistically significant of positive relationship with leverage for selected listed companies in Sri Lanka. Non–debt tax shields and tangibility indicate insignificant impacts on leverage. The results of this empirical study shows that there is robust evidence to support the pecking order theory by manufacturing based companies on the capital structure determinant of profitability variable, and growth variable also strongly supports to the association of the pecking order theory. Though, trade–off theory also can not be rejected because of the correct estimate of the positive sign of size variable of manufacturing based companies. Thus, implication of pecking order theory is more appropriate in Sri Lankan perspective.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Doaa El-Diftar

This paper investigates the behavior of firm characteristics on capital structure in firms in the MENA region. The outcomes of this research are important to bridge the gap between the theory and the practical decisions related to capital structure. The research studies the impact of firm characteristics on levels of debt from three different perspectives; short-term debt, long-term debt, and total debt. The study is applied to 416 firms from nine countries of the MENA region (Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, Kuwait, Egypt, Jordan, and Tunisia) over some time from 2007-2016. Various econometrics techniques are used to reinforce the generated results. The results show that a firm's profitability and liquidity levels have a significant inverse impact on leverage, whereas; firm's size has a direct impact. The empirical results also show that asset tangibility and market value impact leverage differently depending on the type of debt used. Overall, the results reinforce the importance of both the pecking order theory as well as the trade-off theory in explaining capital structure decisions in the MENA region, with the results being more significant concerning the pecking order theory.


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.


2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (1(J)) ◽  
pp. 171-181
Author(s):  
Jason Stephen Kasozi

The South African retail sector continues to experience a decline in sales and returns amidst growing external competition and a drop in consumer confidence stemming from the recent credit downgrades in the country. Yet, firms in this sector appear to maintain high debt to equity levels. This study investigated whether the capital structure practices of these firms influence their profitability. A Panel data methodology, using three regression estimators, is applied to a balanced sample of 16 retail firms listed on the Johannesburg Securities Exchange (JSE) during the period 2008-2016. The analysis estimates functions relating capital structure composition with the return on assets (ROA). Results reveal a statistically significant but negative relationship between all measures of debt (short-term, long-term, total debt) with profitability, suggesting a possible inclination towards the pecking order theory of financing behaviour, for listed retail firms. Additionally, retail firms are highly leveraged yet over 75% of this debt is short-term in nature. Policy interventions need to investigate the current restrictions on long-term debt financing which offers longerterm and affordable financing, to boost returns. While this study’s methodology differs slightly from earlier studies, it incorporates vital aspects from these studies, and simultaneously specifies a possible model fit.  This helps to capture unique but salient characteristics like the transitional effects of debt financing on firm profitability.  It therefore delivers some unique findings on the financing behaviour of retail firms that both in form policy change, while stimulating further research on the phenomenon. 


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