Working Capital Management and Financial Performance of Agricultural Firms Listed on Nairobi Securities Exchange, Kenya

Abstract

The3listed firms3in Kenya have been experiencing declining and inconsistent performance in the recent years. The study sought to3establish effect of working3capital management3on financial performance of3agricultural firms3listed on Nairobi Securities Exchange. Specifically, study established the influence of accounts receivable collection period on5financial performance; determined5the effect of creditors5payment period5on financial performance; established3effect of operating cash3flow on3financial performance; and determined5effect of inventory5turnover on3financial performance and establish the controlling effect of firm size on the relationship between working capital and financial performance of agricultural firms listed on Nairobi Securities Exchange. The study3would be important for policy, practice and theory. The study3was based on3agency theory, transaction cost3theory, Miller-Orr Model and Baumol’s Model which formed the theoretical basis for this research. This research adopted a descriptive research and correlational research designs. This study’s 5target population comprised seven agricultural5firms listed on the NSE sampling seven5agricultural firms’ listed5on the NSE between 2016 and 2022 using a census survey. Data was obtained from secondary sources for a period between 2016 and 2022. Panel regression, descriptive and correlation statistics were used for analysis. The study established a negative correlation between accounts receivable collection period and financial performance. The study also revealed that creditor’s payment period had a positive but insignificant relationship with financial performance of the sampled firms. Moreover, there was a positive significant relationship between cash flows and financial performance. This study, therefore, concluded that there exists a positive significant relationship between cash flows and financial performance of agricultural3firms listed on Nairobi Securities Exchange. This study, therefore, concluded that accounts receivable collection period has a significant negative relationship with financial performance of agricultural3firms listed on Nairobi Securities Exchange. The study recommends that agricultural3firms listed on Nairobi Securities Exchange reduce their accounts receivable collection period; increase their operating cash flows; and reduce their inventory turnover period for increased financial performance. Keywords: Capital management, accounts receivable collection period, creditors’ payment period, operating cash5flows, inventory turnover period, firm size5 Financial Performance