The Impact Of Trade Credit Use On Corporate Profitability: The Case Of Manufacturing Firms Listed On The Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (2009-2017)

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of trade credit as a source of funding among manufacturing firms listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE) for the period 2009 to 2017. In doing so, panel data collected from financial statements of fifteen manufacturing firms listed on the ZSE for the period 2009 to 2017 were used. As suggested by the Hausman Specification Test and Breusch-Pagan Lagrangian Multiplier Test, the study adopted the Random Effects Model. The study found that trade credit negatively affects firm profitability. Furthermore, firm size and liquidity were found to have positive impact on firm profitability while leverage was found to be irrelevant as predicted by the Modigliani-Miller Proposition 1. Basing on these findings, the study advises manufacturing firms to reduce the use of trade credit as a financing source by making early payments to their suppliers and opt for the issuance of debt and equity since leverage had no impact on firm profitability. Apart from that, manufacturing firms should strive to increase their size by investing in assets with positive Net Present Value (NPV). Manufacturing firms need to engage in intensive cash management techniques in order to increase and preserve their liquidity levels.