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Inventories, sales uncertainty, and financial strength

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  • Caglayan, Mustafa
  • Maioli, Sara
  • Mateut, Simona

Abstract

We investigate the empirical linkages between sales uncertainty and firms’ inventory investment behavior while controlling for firms’ financial strength. Using large panels of manufacturing firms from several European countries we find that higher sales uncertainty leads to larger stocks of inventories. We also identify an indirect effect of sales uncertainty on inventory accumulation through the financial strength of firms. Our results provide evidence that financial strength mitigates the adverse effects of uncertainty.

Suggested Citation

  • Caglayan, Mustafa & Maioli, Sara & Mateut, Simona, 2012. "Inventories, sales uncertainty, and financial strength," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 36(9), pages 2512-2521.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbfina:v:36:y:2012:i:9:p:2512-2521
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbankfin.2012.05.006
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    4. Joseph P. Byrne & Marina-Eliza Spaliara & Serafeim Tsoukas, 2016. "Firm Survival, Uncertainty, And Financial Frictions: Is There A Financial Uncertainty Accelerator?," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 54(1), pages 375-390, January.
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    6. Iny Hwang & Taejin Jung & Woo‐Jong Lee & Daniel G. Yang, 2021. "Asymmetric Inventory Management and the Direction of Sales Changes†," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 38(1), pages 676-706, March.
    7. Zhao, Wei & Wei, Xiangyu & Li, Yunong, 2024. "Foreign M&A and inventory adjustment: Evidence from Chinese manufacturers," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    8. Yang, Junhong & Guariglia, Alessandra & Peng, Yuchao & Shi, Yukun, 2022. "Inventory investment and the choice of financing: Does financial development play a role?," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    9. Afrifa, Godfred Adjapong & Tingbani, Ishmael & Adesina, Oluseyi Oluseun, 2022. "Stochastic frontier modelling of working capital efficiency across Europe," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    10. Jianyu Zeng & Teng Zhong & Fan He, 2020. "Economic policy uncertainty and corporate inventory holdings: evidence from China," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 60(2), pages 1727-1757, June.
    11. Godfred Adjapong Afrifa & Ahmad Alshehabi & Ishmael Tingbani & Hussein Halabi, 2021. "Abnormal inventory and performance in manufacturing companies: evidence from the trade credit channel," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 56(2), pages 581-617, February.
    12. Weerawich Roekchamnong & Pongsa Pornchaiwiseskul & Anant Chiarawongse, 2014. "The Effects of Uncertainties on Inventory Management of Petroleum Products: A Case Study of Thailand," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 4(3), pages 380-390.
    13. Godfred Adjapong Afrifa & Ishmael Tingbani & Ahmad Alshehabi & Hussein Halabi, 2024. "Short-term credit policies and operating performance," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 62(4), pages 1755-1790, May.
    14. Chun Lu & James Routledge & Kam C. Chan & Tongxia Li, 2023. "Policy uncertainty and inventory behavior: Evidence from the US manufacturing sector," Economics and Politics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 35(3), pages 919-948, November.
    15. Afrifa, Godfred Adjapong & Gyapong, Ernest & Monem, Reza M., 2018. "Product differentiation, market dynamics and the value relevance of trade payables: Evidence from UK listed firms," Journal of Contemporary Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 14(3), pages 235-253.
    16. Casalin, Fabrizio & Pang, Gu & Maioli, Sara & Cao, Ting, 2017. "Inventories and the concentration of suppliers and customers: Evidence from the Chinese manufacturing sector," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 193(C), pages 148-159.
    17. Achintya Ray, 2018. "Are Inventories Accretive? Lessons from Inventory and Earnings Relationship in the U.S. Capital Goods Sector," Accounting and Finance Research, Sciedu Press, vol. 7(1), pages 1-40, February.
    18. Dariusz Nowak & Sławomir Gorczynski, 2020. "A Qualitative Approach to Trade Credit in Business Organisations," Business Management, D. A. Tsenov Academy of Economics, Svishtov, Bulgaria, issue 1 Year 20, pages 25-41.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Inventory investment; Uncertainty; Financial constraints;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D92 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Intertemporal Firm Choice, Investment, Capacity, and Financing
    • D81 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Criteria for Decision-Making under Risk and Uncertainty
    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade

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