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Financing a Loss

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  • David Rakowski
  • Eahab Elsaid

Abstract

When companies have a net loss accompanied by negative operating cash flows, they must decide how to handle the financing deficit, or, stated differently, they must decide how to finance the loss. By examining a large sample of firms with net losses, we document how companies respond to the financing shock that occurs with negative cash flow. For companies with a one-year loss, current assets decrease and current liabilities increase. While we observe that leverage ratios increase during a loss year, this increase has more to do with decreasing book equity than an increase in long-term debt. However, when the loss persists into a second year, companies make more fundamental changes, often downsizing by decreasing fixed assets and by issuing longer term debt.

Suggested Citation

  • David Rakowski & Eahab Elsaid, 2012. "Financing a Loss," Accounting and Finance Research, Sciedu Press, vol. 1(1), pages 1-53, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:jfr:afr111:v:1:y:2012:i:1:p:53
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • R00 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General - - - General
    • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

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