Corporate Financial Managers Research Articles

How to Equity Ratio, Profitability and Firm Value Shape Stock Prices: An In-Depth Analysis

This research aims to determine the effect of the Debt-to-Equity Ratio, Earning Per Share, and Price Earning Ratio on the share price. This research uses a quantitative approach with secondary data obtained from financial reports for the period 2015 to 2019. The research results show that simultaneously, the variables DER, EPS, and PER have a significant influence on stock prices. Partially, the DER and EPS variables have a weak influence on stock prices, while PER has a stronger influence on share prices. This finding has the implication that company management must consider these financial factors in their share price increase strategy. It is hoped that this research can contribute to financial literature and become a reference for further research. The contribution of this research to the finance literature is significant in several ways. First, this research highlights the influence of the Debt-to-Equity Ratio (DER), Earning Per Share (EPS), and Price Earning Ratio (PER) on the share price of PT Agung Podomoro Land Tbk from 2015 to 2019. Managerial Implications The study examining the effect of Debt-to-Equity Ratio, Earning Per Share, and Price Earning Ratio on stock prices provides critical insights for corporate financial managers and investors.

Research on the Optimization and Upgrading Path of Enterprise Financial Management from the Perspective of the Digital Economy

At present, China has entered the era of digital economy, the business environment faced by enterprises has changed significantly, and the traditional financial management model has been unable to adapt to market demand. To this end, enterprises need to study the characteristics of the digital economy and adopt effective financial management optimization and upgrading paths. This article summarizes the characteristics of the digital economy, summarizes and analyzes the opportunities and challenges faced by corporate financial management from the perspective of digital economy, analyzes the necessity of optimizing and upgrading corporate financial management, and studies effective optimization and upgrading paths, hoping to provide reference information for corporate financial managers.

Capital structure and financial performance of listed non-financial firms in Ghana

Capital structure and its impact on firm performance is a key issue in finance, and there are a number of theories and empirical papers that explain this relationship. Using secondary data from listed companies that have traded on the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) from 2016 to 2020, the study specifically examines the effect of short-term debt, long-term debt, and total debts on the operational efficiency of listed non-financial companies in Ghana. The study shows that a firm's return on assets decreases as its amount of debt accumulation rises. Also, some firm-specific variables have small but significant impacts on enterprises' profitability. The study recommends that, to ensure that there is adequate cash available for the company's ongoing operations, corporate finance managers should ensure working capital is managed properly and responsibly. Also, in the extreme case where a short-term borrower facility is unavoidably required and must be acquired, the study advises administrators to make sure that the total amount of short-term obligations taken on as a percentage of the capital structure is less than the sum of non-current liabilities and equity in total assets.

Providing a Model for Detecting Tax Fraud Based on the Personality Types of Corporate Financial Managers using the Neural Network Approach

Providing a Model for Detecting Tax Fraud Based on the Personality Types of Corporate Financial Managers using the Neural Network Approach

Factors affecting asset investment of public companies in plastic and packaging industry in Vietnam

The purpose of this research is to identify and analyze the influence of internal factors on asset investment of public companies in the plastic and packaging industry in Vietnam. The research has built a regression model to determine the relationship of internal factors affecting asset investment of public companies in the plastic and packaging industry in Vietnam. The strength of this research is to use the E-view software in quantitative analysis to build a panel data regression model. At the same time, the researchers used the Hausman test to select the appropriate model compared to other research. The data of the research are collected and calculated from the financial statements of 27 companies in the plastic and packaging industry in Vietnam from 2013 to 2020. The research results show that such factors as sale, equity, and debt ratio have a positive impact on asset investment, the return on assets has a negative impact on asset investment, while the average loan interest rate does not affect the asset investment of enterprises. Therefore, the author has made recommendations to help public companies in the plastic and packaging industry in Vietnam to improve the efficiency of asset investment. The results of this research are very useful for corporate financial managers in helping them make appropriate financial decisions for their companies.

MANUFACTURING FIRMS’ CAPITAL STRUCTURE IN BANGLADESH: COMPARISON BETWEEN LISTED MNCS AND LOCAL COMPANIES

The capital structure of a firm has immense significance as it has implications on corporate value and financial performance. The basic aim of the research was to analyze and compare the capital structure of Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE)-listed multi-national companies (MNCs) and local companies of Bangladesh over 24 years (1996-2019). Stratified sampling techniques were applied to the selection of firms. Six financial leverage ratios were used to analyze and compare capital structures. There were significant differences in capital structure between local companies and MNCs as the null hypothesis was rejected. It was also found that the mean equity-financing proportion of domestic companies and MNCs were 65% and 92.5% respectively. The proportion of long term debt in total capital employed was very low for both types of companies. MNCs can raise the proportion of both short and long-term debt to take the advantage of financial leverage. Domestic companies can redeem some short term loan and replace some short term debt with long term debt. This research would be useful for corporate financial managers, creditors, and investors to take appropriate financing as well as investment decisions which would affect shareholders' wealth and value of the firm in the long run to a significant extent.
 JEL Classification Codes: G30, G32, G39

Corporate financial management and managers’ (ir)rationality

The aim of this paper is to analyze how managers who are characterized by optimism and excessive self-confidence, as forms of bias and irrationality, manage corporate finances. The assumption of the perfect rationality of an average man, from which the proponents of traditionalist economic views proceeded, proved to be unfounded in practice and was rejected by modern economics. Limited rationality and the absence of rationality in making economic decisions by the average person are accepted as real phenomena. The thesis that managers are more rational than average people is also called into question. Irrationality can occur in various forms. This paper deals with two forms of irrationality: optimism and excessive self-confidence, and factors that affect their level. It is considered how the optimism and excessive self-confidence of managers affect the profiling of investment, financing and dividend payment policies. Furthermore, factors that control actions of biased managers are presented. The results of the analysis of the relevant literature demonstrate that biased managers mainly rely on internal and short-term external sources of financing, invest significantly more and with greater risks than average managers, and generally pursue a residual dividend policy.

The impact of debt management on corporate earnings: Indebtedness and its effects on the financial performance of selected Visegrad group enterprises

Research background: One of the significant problems of corporate financial management in the international context is the appropriate determination of the total amount of capital as well as the correct composition of financial sources to finance the activities of enterprises. The determination of the optimal capital structure, and thus the minimization of the costs of capital have been of interest to authors worldwide for several decades, as they can significantly influence the level of corporate earnings. Purpose of the article: The main aim of the paper is to find a mathematical formula to determine whether the indebtedness of an enterprise is related to any financial problems or does not affect the financial performance of an enterprise and thus contributes to the profitability, i.e. if the debt management is performed efficiently. Methods: To find the mathematical formula, we used the financial data of enterprises operating in the selected Visegrad group and calculated the financial ratios of indebtedness, which were further used in the multiple discriminant analysis. The final discriminant function and calculated centroids allow dividing the enterprises into two different groups, with and without financial problems. Findings & Value added: The results of this analysis can be used in the international context to determine the appropriate level of indebtedness also in other countries, not only in the Visegrad group, which may be helpful for corporate financial managers or creditors, because optimal indebtedness helps generate revenues.

Implications of Government Borrowing for Corporate Financing in Emerging Economies: A Crowding Out Kuznets Curve

This paper investigates the implications of government borrowing for corporate financing and capital structure of the firms. In doing so, we explore the effects of government debt, macroeconomic and firm-specific factors on firm’s choice of financing and capital structure. We draw on the 10-year data (2007–2017) of 225 non-financial firms listed on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE) and employ the system Generalized Method of Moments (system-GMM) for estimation. Our key findings suggest that the government borrowing and debt financing for the Vietnamese listed companies have a negative relationship. Specifically, the short-term corporate leverage structure is influenced more strongly than the long-term leverage structure. We also define the threshold for the association between government borrowing and corporate financing decisions by capturing a U-shaped relationship i.e., Crowding out Kuznets Curve (CKC). Furthermore, macroeconomic factors also show a statistically significant impact on corporate financing decisions. Our findings have profound implications for the fiscal and public policymakers, investors as well as corporate finance managers and firms.

Reporting Concerns about Earnings Quality: An Examination of Corporate Managers

Using an experiment with corporate financial managers (e.g., CFOs, controllers), we find that, when red flags are present in the financial statements under their review, managers identify those red flags and, in turn, have greater concerns over earnings quality. In addition, when pressure to meet a financial target is high, managers are more concerned about earnings quality when red flags are present. We also document that when red flags are present, managers are more likely to report both internally to their CEO and, if their concerns are not resolved internally, externally to their auditor. Higher or lower pressure to meet a financial target did not appear to influence the decision to report. Additional analyses reveal countervailing personal costs involved with reporting or not reporting earnings quality concerns. Finally, we provide initial evidence that corporate managers with a longer tenure at their position (public accounting background) are less (more) likely to report externally.

The role of macroeconomic and institutional factors in creating corporate financial flexibility

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of macroeconomic factors and the institutional environment on corporate financial flexibility (FF). Most studies focus on well-developed financial markets and very little is known about corporate FF in less developed financial markets and emerging markets (Buvanendra et al., 2016). The present study contributes to filling this gap in the literature and provides a more practical and functional framework to assess the FF of firms located in emerging economies.Design/methodology/approachThe study used annual data for the period from 1991 to 2018. To examine the relationship between macroeconomic indicators, institutional environment and corporate FF, hypotheses were tested using an unbalanced panel logistic regression model.FindingsThe paper provides empirical insights into the relationships between macroeconomic factors, institutional environment and corporate FF. The results suggest a substantial change in FF across firms. Inflation, institutional quality and banking sector development negatively affect FF, while equity market development has a significant positive impact. Gross domestic product growth was found to be an insignificant predictor of FF.Practical implicationsThis study has practical implications for corporate finance managers, regulators and investors, who must consider the significant factors of this study when making economic decisions. Finance managers can thus make appropriate decisions regarding capital structure and FF. Regulators of the banking sector can take appropriate measures to enhance competition and increase the development of the banking sector. Further, regulators of the equity market can enhance the development of the market to enhance the supply of capital.Originality/valueThis study adds to the literature showing that not only firm-specific factors affect corporate FF, but country-specific macroeconomic and institutional factors also have a significant effect. It also adds to the literature in the area of corporate FF; this field is in its initial stage, even in developed countries, while, in developing countries, little work has been done.

The role of the volatility index in asset pricing: The case of the Indian stock market

This study examines whether the volatility index, a proxy for aggregate volatility risk, can be used as an additional factor in the standard asset pricing model for the Indian stock market after controlling for well-documented risk factors. This study first examines the empirical performance of the capital asset pricing model, the Fama-French three-factor model and the Carhart four-factor model. On the basis of a GRS test, the Fama-French three-factor model is used as the baseline model to explore the role of the volatility index as an additional factor considered in the asset pricing model. The factor mimicking portfolio returns for the volatility index innovations is constructed and is included as an additional factor in the Fama-French three-factor model. The study provides strong evidence of size effects but relatively weak value-growth and momentum effect. Further, stock’s sensitivity to volatility index innovation is a priced risk factor during high volatility period, but not during low volatility period. Nevertheless, the addition of volatility risk factor leads to marginal improvements in the capacity for the model to explain the variation in stock returns. The results of this study will help financial analysts and corporate financial managers to evaluate the performance of professionally managed portfolios.

Latin American Corporate Emerging Markets Bond Indices (CEMBIs): Their recent evolution

This paper studies the stochastic relationship among six Latin American countries' international bond issue risk premium. The analysis exploits a novel Corporate Emerging Markets Bond Indices (CEMBIs) database processed with a VAR-CCC model to clarify the nature of such relationships, and makes an objective interpretation of their characteristics. The countries included in the sample are Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru, and the daily observations period from May 14, 2014, through February 9, 2017. Our findings indicate that the CEMBI returns of Brazil and Mexico are the main influencers on the behavior of the other Latin American CEMBI returns. These insights are valuable to understand the diversification possibilities of CEMBI portfolios, and of interest to Latin American corporate financial managers who consider financing their firms with international bond issues, and for whom the risk premium paid by bond issues is the cost of funding.

Effect of Equity Financing Options on Financial Performance of Non-Financial Firms Listed at the Nairobi Securities Exchange, Kenya

Corporate finance managers worldwide have for a long time consistently sought to maximize shareholders’ wealth and their firm’s market value through their decisions on firm’s capital structure. However, both scholars and practitioners of corporate finance are yet to agree on the optimal mix of equity and debt that maximizes a firm’s financial performance. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of equity financing options namely common stock (CS), retained earnings (REN) and total equity (TED) as ratios of total assets on the financial performance measured as return on assets (ROA) and return on equity (ROE) of Kenya’s listed firms. Utilizing panel econometric techniques namely pooled ordinary least squares (OLS), fixed effects (FE) and random effects (RE), the study analyzes the effects of equity variables as ratios of total assets on the financial performance of 40 non-financial firms listed at the Nairobi Securities Exchange between 2009 and 2015. The study’s empirical results show that CS ratio significantly and negatively affects ROA while REN ratio has a statistically significant and positive effect on ROA. Overall, TE ratio positively and significantly affects ROA. On the contrary, ROE is not significantly affected by the equity variables in the sample. While the non-significant effects of equity on ROE find support in Modigliani and Miller’s capital structure irrelevance theory, the positive effects of REN ratio and the negative effects of CS ratio on ROA, which are largely supported by the trade-off theory, may explain the pecking order theory’s prioritization of internal capital sources over debt and equity issuances. Thus, corporate finance managers should find a place for internal financing options particularly retained earnings to maximize equity holders’ returns on assets employed. Additionally, corporate finance managers should endeavour to minimize on the use of CS due to its negative effects on shareholder earnings on their assets. Nonetheless, a reasonable balance between CS and REN should be considered since the positive effect between TE and ROA is an appraisal for an optimum mix of equity financing options.

Biomarker of Quality? Venture‐backed Biotech IPOs and Insider Participation

Corporate financial managers of biotech firms need long‐term financing to reach key milestones, and that requires a long‐ term capital structure. They must balance a mix of investors with different objectives and different investment horizons that includes traditional venture capitalists and also hedge funds and mutual funds. This study helps practitioners understand the complex role of exit decisions, as venture capitalists seek better exit strategies and performance. IPOs are financing but not “exit” moves.In addition to certifying firm value, insider purchasing of shares in the IPO offering has two major consequences. First, venture capitalists reallocate large sums of capital from early‐stage to late‐stage deals that are expected to have lower risk (but also lower expected return) and shorter time to exit. Second, the speed at which VCs exit after the IPO depends on the firm ownership structure after the IPO and the stock liquidity. Going public with a significant participation by venture capitalists will probably increase the post‐IPO ownership and decrease the free float of the stock, implying a delay of the exit and the realization of the capital gains from the investments.Although this study has focused exclusively on the biotechnology industry, insider participation is not unique to it. Biotech's venture brethren in the software and technology industries also have insider participation in IPOs. During 2003–2015, approximately 41 venture‐backed firms outside of the biotechnology sector had insider participation.

Salient accounting value drivers and equity re-turns : Evidence from US industries

Past literatures suggest the presence of ubiquitous disquiet among corporate financial managers, financial analysts and portfolio managers that changes in certain accounting variable's results in changes in stock prices, irrespective of whether future cash flow's subsume these changes in salient accounting variables. Using an empirical rational inquiry, this paper attempts to test whether there is any relationship between salient accounting variables and equity returns for five major US industries (Manufacturing, Services, Wholesale, Constructions and Retail) from the period 1996 to 2015, and as a result, may contribute to accretion or loss in stockholders’ wealth. To account for divergent industry-specific revenue generating process and the existing fluidity in industry-specific application of accounting standards, this study thus disaggregates sample data by industry. The industry approach implies that the effect of salient accounting variables on equity prices may be described as a conflation of industry-specific characteristics and capital market synergies. Consistent with this notion, this study finds that salient accounting variables which are used to measure operating performance, growth opportunities, investment management and profitability have the significant impact on equity returns. However, and most importantly, the study finds that the impact of the salient accounting variables varies from one industry to another. As such, this study is particularly useful for equity market participants in the identification of industry related, market-relevant accounting variables, which may be used to guide future financial policies.

Industry herd behaviour in financing decision making

Utilizing a panel data, I examined herd behavior in capital structure of firms for four major US industries (Manufacturing, Construction, Wholesale and Services), specifically regarding their propensity to exhibit herd behavior around industry median capital structure and industry-leader capital structure respectively. I followed existing methodology in the extant literature by using cross-sectional absolute dispersion (CSAD) to detect industry-wide herding and industry leader-follower herding, as well as the herding behavior during economic expansion and contraction during the sample period 1996–2015. Using industry median capital structure measurement, statistically significant evidence of herding in Services industry is found in the bear market, whilst statistically significant evidence of herding in the bull market is found in Manufacturing industry when industry-leader capital structure measurement is used. Given the relatively high procyclical nature of services industry, it is not all surprising that corporate financial managers may herd around industry median capital structure during economic contraction for reasons such as indemnity against suboptimal performance and reputational costs. On the other hand, in a bull market coupled with information asymmetry, firms may engage in free-riding and this might explain herd behavior exhibited by manufacturing industry. Regarding inter-industry herd behavior, all three industries are found to herd around the Wholesale industry; two are found to herd around manufacturing and construction industries. With the exception of manufacturing industry, none of the other three industries exhibit within-industry herding behavior using both industry median and industry leader capital structure measurements.

Impact of Behavioral Biases on Long Term Financial Decisions and Corporate Performance: An Evidence from Non-Financial Sector of Pakistan

Purpose: In this study, the relationship of managerial biases i.e. mental accounting, optimism and loss aversion with corporate performance is investigated. For path analysis, we explored this relationship through two subdomains of long term financial decisions (capital structure and dividend policy). Moreover, in this study, the mediating role of capital structure and dividend policy was also theorized and tested on the above-stated relationship. Sample/ Methodology/Approach: The sample of the study consisted of eighty-five (n=85) CEOs, CFOs, General Managers and Financial Treasurers of the nonfinancial sector (listed in Pakistan Stock Exchange). Primary data was collected through closed ended questionnaire by using convenience sampling technique. Statistical technique PLS-SEM was applied for data analysis by using SMART PLS 3.2 statistical package. Findings: The findings of the study depicted that behavioral biases influence corporate performance as managers take a decision under the influence of personal feelings, perceptions, and intuitions. We also inferred from the results that the effect of biases (mental accounting, optimism, and loss aversion) is significant on long term financial decisions. We also found that dividend policy and capital structure mediates the relationship between optimism and mental accounting with corporate performance. Originality/Value: This research study fills the gap in existing literature by investigating the relationship of managerial biases with corporate performance through the path of long term financial decisions of corporate financial managers. Previously, extensive research work is available on basic topic that how dividend policy and capital structure affect corporate performance, however, we found comparatively quite less discussion on stimulating forces (behavioral biases) for financial decision making and this gap is covered by this study through explaining the impact of behavioral biases on long term financial decisions which further devastate corporate performance. This study as an empirical evidence is helpful for researchers, academicians, and practitioners to understand and implement the notions coined by behavioral finance, regarding the effects of behavioral biases on long term financial decisions. Keywords: Optimism, Loss Aversion, and Mental Accounting, Long term financial decision, Corporate Performance, Pakistan.

Financial structure signalling to auditors` pricing

This paper empirically examines capital structure signalling to auditors. Financial structure has adverse selection that can negatively affect auditors’ perception of firm value or risk, which can lead the auditor to charge high price. We expect firms’ financial structure to positively relate with auditors’ pricing. Using panel data analysis methodology to analyse data of 311 firm-year observations of non-finance firms covering the period 2012-2015, pooled OLS regression results suggest that financial structure is positively related to auditors’ price. We find that equity, but not debt, is significantly related to auditors’ price. These results hold after controlling for auditor type. The positive relations suggest lower perceptions of firm value (hence high risk) by auditors, thereby making firms to pay higher auditors’ price. This suggests that auditors penalise equity financed firms more than debt financed firms, probably because auditors interpret equity financing as firms’ inability to raise debt. Based on the findings, we recommend that auditors should monitor the capital structure of their clients to guide them in pricing their services. We also recommend that corporate finance managers should rebalance their firms’ capital structure cognisant of the fact that it signals to auditors.

Enhancing Shareholder Value Through Efficient Working Capital Management: An Empirical Evidence from India

Working capital management is important owing to its effects on the firm's profitability, liquidity and more importantly on its value. In the current study, we investigated the link between efficiency of working capital management and value of the firm in the Indian context during the period 2004 to 2015. We deployed accounting as well as market based metrics to decipher the relationship between firm value and cash conversion cycle. Using panel data regression model, we found that shorter cash conversion cycle leads to higher firm value; further, we observed a non-linear relationship between cash conversion cycle and firm value indicating optimal level of investment in working capital enhances shareholders' value. Majority of the independent variables including control variables in the model are found to be highly significant. Further, our results are robust and are in consonance with the theory and have far reaching implications for the corporate finance managers, prospective investors, lenders, suppliers, government and regulatory authorities.