Does trade credit spur performance of the firm: a case study of non-financial firms in Pakistan

Purpose - The purpose of this study is to investigate empirically the trade credit financing as antecedents to firm performance in Pakistan, a transition economy having high level of openness in environment using sample data from firms following Sharia principles using Sharia compliance principles. Design/methodology/approach - This study investigated the significance of the trade credit behavior in influencing financial performance of nonfinancial firms which have adopted Sharia principles in their business activities by incorporating feasible generalized least square estimator technique on panel data model from 2010 to 2020. The variables data was extracted from the Pakistan Securities Exchange website for the period 2010–2020. Meanwhile, this study has also taken into consideration the role of bank size in shaping the relation under consideration. Findings - The statistical outcomes from the used model support the strong impact of the existence of trade credit in determining a firm’s financial performance. Results also highlight that profitable firms with high involvement in trade credit can boost their performance by optimal utilization of trade credit sources. However, the acquisition of bank loans for firms having no operational needs can disturb their financial health and ultimately threaten performance. This relationship is more evident for large-size firms. Practical implications - The given analysis suggests the managers from the corporate sector that before making any arrangements for trade credit, they must have to compare the availability of the financing structure from bank as it offers a strong monetary back for any financial imbalance. Originality/value - Briefly, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study would be the first to address the trade credit behavior keeping in view the sample data from firms following Islamic Shariah principles using SAC quantitative approach. Further, the proven analysis demonstrates novel contribution that efficient use of trade credit (based on Islamic Shariah principles) into business activities might strengthen corporate firms’ financial efficiency.