IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/adx/journl/v5y2023i3p231-237.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Role of Working Capital Management in Enhancing Firm Profitability: An Empirical Study on the Manufacturing Companies of Pakistan

Author

Listed:
  • Sidra Tahir
  • Saira Baloch

Abstract

Working capital management is a crucial instrument and one of the key aspects of any business management. It is considered as an accounting technique to maintain the organization's liquidity and financial balance and is regarded as a critical part of financial management in the company. This study emphasizes on investigating the role played by working capital management in enhancing the profitability of companies from the manufacturing sector listed in Pakistan stock exchange during the period 2018-2022. Return on equity and return on assets are used as the profitability measures; however, account receivable turnover, inventory turnover and cash conversion cycle are used as the measures of working capital management. To evaluate the results, the least square regression model is used. The results show that inventory turnover has a significant positive association with both ROA and ROE, which implies that inventory management and sales acceleration have a positive effect on the company's return on assets and return on equity. Similarly, the association of accounts receivable turnover with ROA and ROE is also significant and positive, demonstrating that good credit management and prompt receivables collection improve the return on equity and assets. The research also reveals a significant positive association of both ROA and ROE with the cash conversion cycle. Higher returns on assets and equity are connected with a higher cash conversion cycle. The results suggested that the managers should speed up the collection of receivables as quickly as possible and quickly sell the inventory so that the cash thus generated can be reinvested in productive assets, which can increase the company’s profitability. The study's findings provide an important guideline to financial managers in managing the appropriate level of working capital to enhance firms’ profitability.

Suggested Citation

  • Sidra Tahir & Saira Baloch, 2023. "Role of Working Capital Management in Enhancing Firm Profitability: An Empirical Study on the Manufacturing Companies of Pakistan," Journal of Economic Impact, Science Impact Publishers, vol. 5(3), pages 231-237.
    • Handle: RePEc:adx:journl:v:5:y:2023:i:3:p:231-237
    DOI: 10.52223/econimpact.2023.5308
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.52223/econimpact.2023.5308
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.52223/econimpact.2023.5308?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Muhammad Aqil & Rizwan Raheem Ahmed & Jolita Vveinhardt & Dalia Streimikiene, 2019. "Factors Influencing the Profitability of Heavy Vehicle Industry: A Case of Pakistan," Montenegrin Journal of Economics, Economic Laboratory for Transition Research (ELIT), vol. 15(1), pages 61-72.
    2. Shafique Ahmed & Farhan Ahmed & Sahabia Kanwal, 2018. "Corporate profitability-working capital management tie: empirical evidence from pharmaceutical sector of Pakistan," Asian Journal of Empirical Research, Asian Economic and Social Society, vol. 8(7), pages 259-270, July.
    3. Muhammad Nauman Khan & Imran Khokhar, 2015. "The Effect of Selected Financial Ratios on Profitability: An Empirical Analysis of Listed Firms of Cement Sector in Saudi Arabia," Quarterly Journal of Econometrics Research, Conscientia Beam, vol. 1(1), pages 1-12.
    4. Mohd. Heikal & Muammar Khaddafi & Ainatul Ummah, 2014. "Influence Analysis of Return on Assets (ROA), Return on Equity (ROE), Net Profit Margin (NPM), Debt To Equity Ratio (DER), and current ratio (CR), Against Corporate Profit Growth In Automotive In Indo," International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, Human Resource Management Academic Research Society, International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, vol. 4(12), pages 101-114, December.
    5. Muhammad Nauman Khan & Imran Khokhar, 2015. "The Effect of Selected Financial Ratios on Profitability: An Empirical Analysis of Listed Firms of Cement Sector in Saudi Arabia," Quarterly Journal of Econometrics Research, Conscientia Beam, vol. 1(1), pages 1-12.
    6. Shafique Ahmed & Farhan Ahmed & Sahabia Kanwal, 2018. "Corporate Profitability-Working Capital Management Tie: Empirical Evidence from Pharmaceutical Sector of Pakistan," Asian Journal of Empirical Research, Asian Economic and Social Society, vol. 8(7), pages 259-270.
    7. Farooq, Umar, 2019. "Impact of Inventory Turnover on the Profitability of Non-Financial Sector Firms in Pakistan," Journal of Finance and Accounting Research, University of Management and Technology, Lahore, vol. 1(1), pages 34-51, February.
    8. Sabo Muhammad & Rabi¡¯U Saminu Jibril & Usman Sani K/Wambai & Fatima Bello Ibrahim & Tjjani Habibu Ahmad, 2015. "The Effect of Working Capital Management on Corporate Profitability: Evidence from Nigerian Food Product Firms," Applied Finance and Accounting, Redfame publishing, vol. 1(2), pages 55-63, August.
    9. Asif Iqbal & Sheikh Nabeel Badar & Muhammad Arsalan & Mehboob Moosa & Muhammad Sikander Iqbal, 2023. "Unveiling The Effectiveness of Working Capital Management on Firm Performance: The Moderating Role of Firm Size," Journal of Economic Impact, Science Impact Publishers, vol. 5(2), pages 123-131.
    10. Frank Kabuye & Joachim Kato & Irene Akugizibwe & Nicholas Bugambiro & Collins G. Ntim, 2020. "Internal control systems, working capital management and financial performance of supermarkets," Cogent Business & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 6(1), pages 1573524-157, July.
    11. Sorin Gabriel Anton & Anca Elena Afloarei Nucu, 2020. "The Impact of Working Capital Management on Firm Profitability: Empirical Evidence from the Polish Listed Firms," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-14, December.
    12. Guler Aras & Filiz Mutlu Yildirim, 2018. "The impact of corporate finance decisions on market value in emerging markets," International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 67(9), pages 1959-1976, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Guo, Xu & Li, Runze & Liu, Jingyuan & Zeng, Mudong, 2023. "Statistical inference for linear mediation models with high-dimensional mediators and application to studying stock reaction to COVID-19 pandemic," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 235(1), pages 166-179.
    2. Guo, Xu & Li, Runze & Liu, Jingyuan & Zeng, Mudong, 2024. "Reprint: Statistical inference for linear mediation models with high-dimensional mediators and application to studying stock reaction to COVID-19 pandemic," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 239(2).
    3. RukhsanaRasheed & Mehwish Shahid & Munaza Mukhtar & Mazhar Nadeem Ishaq, 2022. "Impact of Capital Structure and Liquidity Conditions on the Profitability of Pharmaceutical Sector of Pakistan," iRASD Journal of Management, International Research Alliance for Sustainable Development (iRASD), vol. 4(2), pages 135-142, june.
    4. Cancio Díaz, Yudiesky & Sánchez Berriel, Sofia & Heierli, Urs & Favier, Aurélie R. & Sánchez Machado, Inocencio R. & Scrivener, Karen L. & Martirena Hernández, José Fernando & Habert, Guillaume, 2017. "Limestone calcined clay cement as a low-carbon solution to meet expanding cement demand in emerging economies," Development Engineering, Elsevier, vol. 2(C), pages 82-91.
    5. Lu Qiu & Die Hu & Yu Wang, 2020. "How do firms achieve sustainability through green innovation under external pressures of environmental regulation and market turbulence?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(6), pages 2695-2714, September.
    6. Die Hu & Lu Qiu & Maoyan She & Yu Wang, 2021. "Sustaining the sustainable development: How do firms turn government green subsidies into financial performance through green innovation?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(5), pages 2271-2292, July.
    7. Cui, Yu & Khan, Sufyan Ullah & Li, Zhixue & Zhao, Minjuan, 2021. "Environmental effect, price subsidy and financial performance: Evidence from Chinese new energy enterprises," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    8. Zhifeng Liu & Kaixin Li & Tingting Zhang, 2023. "Information diversity and household portfolio diversification," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(4), pages 3833-3845, October.
    9. Rabia Asif & Muhammad Fiaz & Zunaina Zulfiqar, 2022. "The Impact of Sustainable Energy on Liquidity and Financial Performance of the Textile Industry," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(4), pages 21582440221, December.
    10. Xinyue Hao & Fanglin Chen & Zhongfei Chen, 2022. "Does green innovation increase enterprise value?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(3), pages 1232-1247, March.
    11. Mohammad Ali AL Hayek, 2018. "The Relationship Between Sales Revenue and Net Profit with Net Cash Flows from Operating Activities in Jordanian Industrial Joint Stock Companies," International Journal of Academic Research in Accounting, Finance and Management Sciences, Human Resource Management Academic Research Society, International Journal of Academic Research in Accounting, Finance and Management Sciences, vol. 8(3), pages 149-162, July.
    12. Kah Chon, Ooi, 2019. "Impacts Of Firm-Specific Factors And Macroeconomic Factors Against Microsoft’S Performance," MPRA Paper 97254, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 15 Nov 2019.
    13. Talwar SHALINI, 2018. "Analysis of Working Capital, ROA and Business Turnover for Firms in the FMCG, Manufacturing and Infrastructure Sectors in India," Economics and Applied Informatics, "Dunarea de Jos" University of Galati, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, issue 3, pages 22-28.
    14. Putri P. R. Marditia & James Xaverius & jeff Gerardo & Rya Terassa Manihuru & Ryan Ricardo, 2022. "Arrangement model for the implementation of pledge of shares execution for a public company by private sale to create sustainable economic development," International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147-4478), Center for the Strategic Studies in Business and Finance, vol. 11(1), pages 398-406, January.
    15. Akhmadi Akhmadi & Dabela Yunia & Robiyanto Robiyanto, 2020. "The Role of Profitability in the Effect of Company Growth on the Debt Policy," International Journal of Financial Research, International Journal of Financial Research, Sciedu Press, vol. 11(4), pages 267-274, July.
    16. Annathurai, Anusha, 2019. "Corporate Governance Analysis on Risk Exposure and Performance of AIA Bhd," MPRA Paper 97259, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 27 Nov 2019.
    17. Muhammad Azeem Naz & Rizwan Ali & Ramiz Ur Rehman & Collins G. Ntim, 2022. "Corporate governance, working capital management, and firm performance: Some new insights from agency theory," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 43(5), pages 1448-1461, July.
    18. Jaroslav Mazanec, 2022. "The Impact of Working Capital Management on Corporate Performance in Small–Medium Enterprises in the Visegrad Group," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-19, March.
    19. Didik Susilo & Sugeng Wahyudi & Irene Rini Demi Pangestuti, 2020. "Profitability Determinants of Manufacturing Firms in Indonesia," International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), vol. 0(2), pages 53-64.
    20. Samuel Tabot Enow, 2022. "A Meta-Analysis of the Impact of Working Capital on Profitability," Eurasian Journal of Economics and Finance, Eurasian Publications, vol. 10(1), pages 1-10.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:adx:journl:v:5:y:2023:i:3:p:231-237. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Iqbal Javed (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.scienceimpactpub.com/journals/index.php .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.