Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

• Behrooz Badpa ¹
• Sohrab Osta ²
• Fatemeh Darvish-Hoseini ³

¹ Assistant Prof., Department of Accounting, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Ilam University, Ilam, Iran.

² Assistant accounting department. Faculty of Humanities. Ilam University,ilam,Iran

³ Master's Student of Accounting, University of Ilam, Ilam, Iran.

Abstract

Working capital management is crucial for business growth and survival as it maximizes enterprise value and shareholder wealth, thereby maintaining competitive conditions and optimal performance. This study identified and explained accounting variables determining operational efficiency (OE) of the companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE), Iran, in light of working capital items. The statistical population consisted of all companies, and the samples were 112 cases listed during 2016-2020. Utilizing an applied, descriptive-correlational research design, the relationship between the variables was then established. The dependent variable was OE, evaluated using data envelopment analysis (DEA); and the independent ones were working capital items and dividend growth rate. To investigate the effect of the independent variables on the dependent one, eight hypotheses were formulated, and multivariate linear regression with panel data in a fixed-effects model was implemented. Testing the hypotheses at a 95% confidence interval demonstrated that average period of collection of claims, average debt repayment period, dividend growth ratio, cash holding level, and liquidity ratio have a significant positive effect on OE. Nevertheless, the cash conversion cycle, and average inventory turnover period have negative impacts. Managers are thus suggested to identify working capital items and exploit them along with short/long-term goals in companies. This is practical in evaluating financial flexibility and solvency, facilitating optimal liquidity, and increasing business profitability and performance. Furthermore, learning about such items is helpful to investors, creditors, and analysts to make optimal decisions.
 

Introduction

Working capital management in companies plays a key role in their growth and survival. This business process also helps increase the value of such entities and maximize their shareholder wealth, thereby maintaining competitive conditions and optimal performance. Representing the management of current resources and expenses in a company, working capital management has two components, namely, the management of current assets and liabilities, whose balance is of utmost importance. Decisions made about each one can affect the other (Jahan Khani & Talebi, 1999). On the word of Nath et al. (2010), working capital items have a critical role in the operational efficiency (OE) of a company as well as its marketing capability. In this line, Fang et al. (2008) also believe that working capital items have high liquidity, and are directly associated with the operating results and efficiency of a company, so managing cash in the short term is especially relevant for competition in markets. Therefore, the main items in working capital can significantly shape the operating results in a company, including contribution margin, market share, and OE. Against this background, the present study is to identify and explain the accounting variables determining the OE of the companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE), Iran, in light of the working capital items.

Materials & Methods

Considering the type of supervision and the degree of control, this study is categorized as field research, because the variables were investigated in their natural state. With regard to the data collection method, this study is placed into documentary research. Utilizing an applied, descriptive research design, the relationship between the given variables was established via a correlational study. The statistical population comprised the companies listed on the TSE, Iran, and the study samples included 112 cases listed during 2016-2020. The dependent variable was OE, evaluated using data envelopment analysis (DEA), and the independent variables were working capital items and dividend growth rate. Profitability index, company size, financial leverage, and operating cash flow (OCF) were correspondingly deemed as the control variables in the research model. To shed light on the effect of the independent variables on the dependent one, eight hypotheses were initially formulated, and then multivariate linear regression using panel data in a fixed-effects model was implemented to test them. In order to analyze the data and interpret the results, descriptive and inferential statistics were ultimately utilized.

Findings

Upon presenting the descriptive statistics and checking the assumptions of the regression as well as determining themost suitable research model, the linear regression equation was estimated using the fixed-effects model, as described  
in table 1

Discussion & Conclusion

As confirmed by the study findings, working capital items can explain the OE of the companies listed on the TSE, Iran. In this respect, the results of testing the main research hypothesis are consistent with the reports by Sun et al. (2020) and Nath et al. (2010). The outcomes of testing the secondary hypotheses also reveal a significant positive relationship between the variables of average period of collection of claims, average debt repayment period, dividend growth ratio, cash holding level, and liquidity ratio and the variable of operational efficiency. Nevertheless, there is a significant negative relationship between the variables of cash conversion cycle and average inventory turnover period and operational efficiency.
Considering these results, cash holding level and liquidity ratio have a positive effect on operational efficiency, which supports the findings in Nath et al. (2010). According to Nath et al. (2010), working capital items with high liquidity help improve the OE of a company, indicating its high capability to manage cash in the short term, as a requirement for its competitive presence in markets. The study results also agree with those concluded by Afrifa et al. (2022) that holding more cash facilitates working capital efficiency. Based on the study findings, average inventory turnover period has a negative effect on OE, in harmony with the results in Deloof (2003) that high inventory level declines the profitability and performance of a company. In his opinion, managers can increase the profitability and performance of businesses by reducing inventory levels. In view of the cash conversion cycle in the given companies during the study period here, the relationship between this variable and OE is negative, which is consistent with the results in Abdulla et al. (2017) that companies with higher cash conversion cycle are more efficient in managing their working capital as compared with other entities.
From this perspective, managers are suggested to identify the role of working capital items and exploit them in line with the short/long-term goals in companies. This is practical in evaluating financial flexibility and solvency, and facilitates achieving optimal liquidity, and subsequently increasing business profitability and performance. Furthermore, learning about the role of working capital items is of assistance to investors, creditors, and analysts to make optimal decisions. Furthermore, it is possible to carry out the same study in the future with respect to the size and type of industry of the companies listed on the TSE, Iran, and complete a comparative study regarding the companies operating in each industry. Besides, it is recommended to analyze the effect of various working capital strategies on economic added value in a separate study. Investigating the effect of various strategies and components of working capital on stock price and its fluctuations should also be the subject of further research.

Keywords

• Operational Efficiency
• Working Capital Items
• Liquidity
• Dividend Growth
• Data Envelopment Analysis

Main Subjects

• Stock Return
• stock exchange
• Financial Accounting
• Capital Structure