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Bolek, Monika

Article
Working capital management profitability and risk:
Analyse of companies listed on the Warsaw Stock
Exchange

e-Finanse: Financial Internet Quarterly

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University of Information Technology and Management, Rzeszów

Suggested Citation: Bolek, Monika (2013) : Working capital management profitability and risk:
Analyse of companies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange, e-Finanse: Financial Internet
Quarterly, ISSN 1734-039X, University of Information Technology and Management, Rzeszów,
Vol. 9, Iss. 3, pp. 1-10

This Version is available at:


http://hdl.handle.net/10419/147072

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WORKING CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, Table 1: Summary of working capital strategies

PROFITABILITY AND RISK – ANALYSE OF


COMPANIES LISTED ON THE WARSAW
STOCK EXCHANGE
Monika Bolek* Source: J. C. Van Horne, J. M Wachowicz Fundamentals of Financial Management, 12/E,
Financial Times Press, 2004

The capital structure, investments, dividend policy for it, with knowledge being the most important
and company valuation are subject to a  company’s factor of development for societies.
Abstract This paper presents the problem of working capital management, profitability and risk represented by decision making, while working capital management Efficient working capital management should
working capital strategy. According to the theory the more working capital is engaged in the company is the result of negotiations with its customers or optimize liquidity, minimize risk and maximize the
resulting in higher liquidity the lower the profitability and risk connected to the liquidity. On the other subcontractors and inventory management (Filbeck profitability. It is extremely difficult to achieve all
hand we can expect that the lower the working capital level and hence the liquidity the higher the & Krueger, 2005). Usually these decisions are made of these objectives and keep them stable over time
profitability and risk., The author decided to test companies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange to by many managers in different departments, so especially that the problem is three dimensional.
see if balance sheet structure and risk connected to working capital strategy were related to the return
synchronization is one problem and management is Managers knowing these rules should try to be as
measured by ROA and ROE in non-financial companies in the period 1997–2007. The results presented
another, more advanced technique. A lack of working close as possible to the optimal levels while making
below show a lack of correlation between working capital strategies (and the related risk levels) and the
capital management may give rise to specific risk decisions. They should take into account the market
returns on assets and equity.
on the capital market and lead to wrong decisions expectations as well. Aggressive, conservative and
JEL Classification: G31, M21
connected with the capital structure, investments moderate working capital management policies are
Keywords: working capital, profitability, risk and so on, because they are connected with the cost connected to current assets and liabilities levels.
of equity, which is calculated on the market basis This study deals with the influence of working capital
(CAPM for example), where the market and specific strategies on the risk run by companies and their
Received: 20.01.2013 Accepted: 12.12.2013
risk is taken into account. These problems were profitability, indicating that the higher the risk the
analyzed by Harris (2005), who stated that working higher the return. Analysis was conducted on Polish
capital management is a simple way of ensuring the companies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange,
ability of an organization to finance the difference which was the leader in Central and Eastern Europe
Introduction capital management strategy as well as liquidity and between its current assets and current liabilities, in the period 1997–2007. The sample data is limited
moreover profitability measures (ROA and ROE) and such an approach is represented by many to the year 2007 because of the crisis period taking
Working capital management is related to balance
as results for more or less aggressive management CFOs. In more advanced research, working capital place in fallowing years.
sheet structure and therefore influence financial
strategies to evaluate the efficiency of management in management has become one of the most important Working capital, liquidity, profitability and risk
management to a certain degree. Short-term financial
Poland. Companies with aggressive working capital issues in organizations and many financial executives Working capital can be defined within the capital
management is the basis of liquidity management
strategies involve less capital and operate more are trying to identify the basic determinants of approach, which determines the amount of net
and efficiency in the management of current assets
efficiently, therefore the return on equity and assets working capital and their optimal levels (Lamberson, working capital as the difference between constant
and liabilities. This issue is complicated and managers
should be higher. Moreover the more aggressive 1995). capital and fixed assets, bearing in mind that invested
have to decide if they focus on liquidity or profitability
strategy the higher the risk. Opposite situation is The more developed the market, the more advanced capital consists of equity and long-term debt. The
to find a  trade-off between these two groups of
when we take into account the conservative working the techniques of working capital management. The asset approach defines the value of working capital as
ratios, which are fundamental for companies. Both
capital strategy, involving more capital and operating Polish market is an example of a transforming economy the difference between current assets and the amount
liquidity management and efficiency management
less efficient – the ratios of return and risk should be that uses the achievements of western knowledge. of short-term financing of current assets, while the
may be sources of risk. A lack of liquidity may lead to
lower. In the table below we can see, that profitability Researchers can observe the growth and development latter includes: current liabilities, short-term debt,
bankruptcy, while poor efficiency management may
varies inversely with liquidity and profitability moves of the market and apply the methodology created at income and short-term accruals. The higher the level
influence profitability and affect market expectations.
together with risk. a  time when Western countries were discovering of working capital the more capital has to be engaged
In this paper the author focuses on the working
free market rules and experienced economic system and therefore the return on equity is lower since we
capital management problem using balance sheet
growth. Such observations may help to build a model can expect that this difference between current assets
structure measures as indicators of the working
for transforming countries all over the world to help and short – term liabilities is financed by equity. Long
them with starting and performing transition. The – term debt is connected to investments in fixed assets
Western economic system makes people responsible usually. The conservative strategy in working capital

* Ph. D., Monika Bolek, University of Lodz, Department of Economics, ul. Rewolucji 1905r. 41, 90-214 Lodz, Poland, mbolek@ki.uni.lodz.pl.

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may influence the efficiency of company performance working capital management involves planning and Analyzing the structure of the balance sheet, we can The relationship between working capital and liquidity
and therefore it may influence ROA in the same way. controlling current assets and current liabilities distinguish four approaches as presented in Table 2. is also connected to profitability. The literature
too. in a  manner that eliminates the risk of inability to The first scenario is connected with a  high level of describing the relationship between the liquidity and
There are many papers analyzing the problem of meet short-term obligations on one hand and avoids current liabilities and a  low level of current assets, profitability of companies indicates the character
working capital, liquidity, efficiency and profitability. excessive investment in these assets on the other hand indicating negative working capital and an aggressive of this relationship. Although generally an increase
The fundamental work of Gupta and Huefner (1972) (Eljelly, 2004). An aggressive working capital policy approach. The moderate approach can be represented in liquidity ratios also means a  rise in a  company’s
investigated the differences in financial ratios among is connected with a  low level of current assets as by either a high level of current liabilities and a high profitability, at some point the relationship changes
industries. They found differences in profitability, a percentage of total assets and a high level of current level of current assets or a  low level of current and a further increase in liquidity ratios may lead to
activity, leverage and liquidity ratios. Richards and liabilities as a percentage of total liabilities. Excessive liabilities and current assets. In the last scenario, the bankruptcy. This dependence is presented in Figure 1.
Laughlin (1980) pointed out the cash conversion levels of current assets may have a negative effect on conservative approach is characterized by a low level
cycle as a dynamic liquidity measure and proved that the firm’s profitability whereas a low level of current of current liabilities and a high level of current assets.
the relationship between the current and quick ratios assets may lead to a lower level of liquidity resulting
Figure 1: The relationship between liquidity and profitability
and the cash conversion cycle is positive. Basing on in difficulties in maintaining smooth operations
mentioned papers a large group of researchers try to (Van Horne & Wachowicz, 2004). A  conservative
find out the relationship between the working capital working capital policy is connected with a high level
strategy and liquidity, profitability and risk analyzing of current assets as a  percentage of total assets and
home markets all over the world and looking for a low level of current liabilities as a percentage of total
explanations to their different results. Garcia-Teruel, liabilities. A moderate policy can be characterized by
Martinez-Solano (2007) examined the effects of either a  low level of current assets as percentage of
working capital management on the profitability total assets and a  low level of current liabilities as
firms. Chakraborty (2008) examined the relationship percentage of total liabilities or a high level of current
between working capital management and firm assets as percentage of total assets and a high level of
profitability for a sample of Indian companies. Dash current liabilities as percentage of total liabilities.
and Hanuman (2009) studied the conflicting firm The level of current assets and current liabilities
objectives of optimizing liquidity and profitability should be monitored and also established in a long-
using a goal programming model for working capital term strategy. This can reduce haphazard decisions
management. Nobanee and AlHajjar (2009a) studied and uncertainty connected with risk assessment.
the relation between working capital management This can also create a predictable stream of processes
as proxied by the cash conversion cycle, corporate and projects in a  company. The more transactions
performance (firm profitability) as proxied by the the higher the level of current assets and liabilities,
operating income to sales ratio and operating cash which can also influence the level of working capital. Source: Gajdka, J., Walińska, E. (1998). Zarządzanie Finansowe. Teoria i praktyka. Warsaw: FRR, Vol. II, p. 467
flows as proxied by the operating cash flows to sales The more conservative policy the more long-term
ratio. capital will be used to finance working capital and
Working capital is strongly connected to liquidity and the lower the return and value added ratios we can Traditionally, the main indicators of liquidity are the providing dynamic insights. Based on the model
profitability. Companies have to look for the optimal expect. Working capital indicators can be obtained current and the quick ratios (CR and QR, respectively). developed by Richards-Laughlin (1980), the CCC
level of working capital to maintain current operations by analyzing the balance sheet structure according to High current and quick ratios (current assets minus is defined as the sum of the receivables conversion
and to generate an appropriate rate of return. Efficient Sierpińska and Nesterak (1996) as shown in Table 2. inventory (I)) indicate a liquid firm. A high current period (RCP) and the inventory conversion period
or quick ratio can be achieved by having either a high (ICP) minus the payment deferral period (PDP), that
Table 2: Working capital strategy, risk and return level of current assets (CA) or a low level of current is:
liabilities (CL). They can be presented as follows:
CCC = RCP + ICP – DPD (3)
CR = CA / CL (1)
where:
RCP = receivables conversion period = 360/Accounts
Receivable Turnover,
QR = (CA - I) / CL (2) ICP = inventory conversion period = 360/Inventory
Turnover,
Nobanee and AlHajjar (2009b) recommended more PDP = payment deferral period = 360/Payables Turnover.
accurate measures of working capital management,
Notes: CA – current assets, TA – total assets, CL – current liabilities, TL – total liabilities. such as the optimal cash conversion cycle, the optimal Therefore, the cash conversion cycle shows that the
Source: Sierpińska, M., Nesterak, J. (1996). Przedsiębiorstwo na rynku kapitałowym, Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu smaller its value, the quicker the firm can recover
operating cycle, and the optimal net trade cycle. The
Łódzkiego, pp. 197–206 its cash from the sales of its products and the more
cash conversion cycle (CCC) is a liquidity indicator
cash the firm will have, hence the more liquid

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the firm. If the CCC is high, it takes the company internal risk of a company and called a specific risk. 3. For moderate strategy CL/TL and CA/TA should be 2. For conservative strategy CL/TL should be positively
longer to recover cash. Thus, a  high CCC would A  company’s specific risk may have many sources, negatively or positively related to ROA in the same correlated to ROE and CA/TA should be negatively
direction. correlated to ROE.
indicate a  liquidity problem. If the cash conversion one of them being working capital strategy risk
cycle is a  dynamic way of measuring liquidity and strongly connected with the company’s liquidity. 3. For moderate strategy CL/TL and CA/TA should be
provides the managers with clear information about The more liquid the company is the lower its specific Moreover negatively or positively related to ROE in the same
direction.
receivables, inventory and payables turnover, it may risk and vice versa the lower the company liquidity
be considered as a  better measure of liquidity (and is the higher its specific risk. In recent years, there 1. For aggressive strategy CL/TL should be positively
also efficiency, if we take into account the number of has been an increased emphasis on consolidated risk correlated to ROE and CA/TA should be negatively Data used in this analyze was taken from the Notoria
correlated to ROE. Database. Results of 2,176 observations according to
cycles in a  year). If the cash conversion cycle is the management in companies. The coordination of risk
efficiency indicator than we can expect, that the more management in an enterprise is crucial because there the strategy adopted are presented in Table 3.
aggressive the strategy performed by a company the are many departments dealing with exposition to risk
lower the cash conversion cycle. The relationship at different levels and according to various categories.
between current ratio and cash conversion cycle The working capital and liquidity problem is only one Table 3: Results of policy structure analysis
may be positive as Richards-Laughlin (1980) argue, of them. Moreover, risk can be assessed by investors
or negative as Lyroudi-McCarty (1993) have found. analyzing the performance and decisions of the
Lyroudi (2012) analyzed the relationship between companies they invest their money in. In this paper
the current ratio and cash conversion cycle for the problem of the correlation between risky working
Polish companies and found the positive relationship capital strategies and return on assets and equity is
between them. analyzed.
As profitability indicators the author proposes the
return on assets ratio (ROA) and the return on equity
ratio (ROE), following Jose, Lancaster and Stevens Model, testable hypothesis and
(1996) who used both ratios ROA and ROE to results Most of companies perform the conservative and results are presented in Table 4 for ROA and in Table
distinguish the profitability due to assets management The main hypothesis states that working capital moderate working capital strategy that should be 5 for ROE.
(ROA) from the profitability due to financing (ROE). strategy and the risk connected to the liquidity are connected to lower return on equity and assets.
Profitability indicators can be described as follows: correlated to profitability ratios in non-financial To test the hypotheses, Pearson correlation
The return on assets ratio (ROA), which is given by companies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange coefficients were calculated between variables in the
the equation: in the period 1997-2007. A  new methodology is above-mentioned four groups of companies. The
proposed to analyze this problem. The aggressive
strategy is represented by lower than average
ROA = EAT / TA (5)
assets structure ratio and higher than average
where: liability structure ratio. The conservative strategy is
EAT – earnings after taxes, represented by a higher than average assets structure
TA – total assets.
ratio and lower than average liabilities structure
ratio. Moderate strategy is connected to the average
The return on equity ratio (ROE), which is given by amount of mentioned ratios. The author decided to
the equation: divide companies by their balance sheet ratios into
four groups representing aggressive, conservative
ROE= EAT / E (6)
and moderate working capital strategies. Based on
where: Sierpinska and Nesterak’s statement (1996) given in
E – Equity. Table 2, the following hypotheses will be tested:

The higher these profitability ratios are the better for 1. For aggressive strategy CL/TL should be positively
the firm but we should expect a negative relationship correlated to ROA and CA/TA should be negatively
between them and liquidity. correlated to ROA.
A company’s risk from the market point of view can 2. For conservative strategy CL/TL should be positively
be divided into two categories. One is connected correlated to ROA and CA/TA should be negatively
with market fluctuations including exchange rates, correlated to ROA.
interest rates, or commodity prices and is called
market risk, while the other is considered the

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Table 4: Results of correlation analysis for ROA Table 5: Results of correlation analysis for ROE

In scenario A  representing the aggressive strategy profitability does not exist in this case, either. The
the correlation is very low and insignificant. Since moderate strategy represented by B and C scenarios
the author stated that the CL/TL relationship to show significant correlations only for one factor. The working capital indicators correlation to ROE partially significant but the coefficient signs directions
profitability should be positive and the CA/TA The coefficients signs are the same in the scenario B were also analyzed. The results for the aggressive are not the same.
relationship should be negative such a  joined result indicating the same ratios movement direction as it strategy are not significant and moreover the signs of The results are not satisfactory but it may be connected
has not been found and the hypothesis should be was expected. We should note, that the correlation is the Pearson coefficient are opposite to expectations. to the lack of professional management in Polish
rejected. Scenario D represents the conservative stronger in these two cases but results are irrelevant For the conservative strategy the results are not companies on the level of liquidity, profitability and
strategy. Here both correlation indicators are very significant as well, but the coefficient signs directions risk joined decisions.
low and insignificant as well but they are negative are according to expectations. The moderate strategy
this time. Basing on these results the next hypothesis represented by scenario B is characterized by the same
may be rejected and we can conclude that the signs as it was expected but unfortunately the results
relationship between the working capital strategy and are not significant. The results for the scenario C are

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Conclusions The hypothesis stated that for moderate strategy CL/ References Jose M. L., Lancaster C., Stevens J.L., (1996). Corporate
TL should be correlated to ROA and CA/TA should be Returns and Cash Conversion Cycles, Journal of
The Polish economy is a developing one, catching up Chakraborty, K., 2008. Working Capital and Profitability; Economics and Finance, 20, (1), 35-48.
correlated to ROA in the same direction. The analysis An Empirical Analysis of Their Relationship with
with the Western countries. Efficient management in Lamberson, M. (1995). Changes in Working Capital of
showed that a Pearson coefficient equals 0.09 for CA/ Reference to Selected Companies in the Indian
companies requires knowledge and experience. Since Small Firms in Relation to Changes in Economic Activity.
TA and -0.13 for CL/TL in a first scenario and 0.17 Pharmaceutical Industry. The ICFAI Journal of
the economy is developing, knowledge is also likely Management Research. Mid-American Journal of Business 10(2), 45-50.
for CA/TA and 0.05 for CL/TL. Results are partially
to be developing. The most skilled people work for Lyroudi, K., McCarty, D. (1993). An Empirical
significant and the hypothesis should be rejected. Dash, M. And Hanuman, R. , (2009). A Liquidity-
international corporations that offer better salary and Investigation of the Cash Conversion Cycle of Small
The hypothesis stated that for aggressive strategy Profitability Trade-Off Model for Working Capital
career path. As a result Polish companies do not have Management. SSRN Working Paper Series. Business Firms. Journal of Small Business Finance,
CL/TL should be positively correlated to ROE and
many choices. Moreover the lack of experienced and http://ssrn.com/abstract=1408722, pages 10. p. 139-161.
CA/TA should be negatively correlated to ROE. The
successful managers creates a  gap of knowledge in Lyroudi, K., (2012) The Liquidity – Profitability Trade-
analysis showed that the Pearson coefficient equals Eljelly, A. M. A. (2004). Liquidity- Profitability Tradeoff:
companies and young employees do not have positive An Empirical Investigation in an Emerging Market. off for Polish Companies, Presentation at the 4th
-0.01 for CA/TA and 0.06 for CL/TL. Results are not
patterns to follow. International Journal of Commerce and Management International Conference of the Economies of Balkan and
significant and the hypothesis should be rejected. Eastern Europe Countries in the Changed World (EBEEC
In the first stage of research, the author analyzed 14(2), 48-61.
The hypothesis stated that for conservative strategy 2012) Sofia, Bulgaria 11-13 May.
the percentage of companies following aggressive, Filbeck, G., Krueger, T. (2005). Industry Related
CL/TL should be positively correlated to ROE and Nobaneee, H. And AlHajjar, M., (2009a). Working Capital
conservative, and moderate strategies. The majority Differences in Working Capital Management. Mid-
CA/TA should be negatively correlated to ROE. The Management, Operating Cash Flow and Corporate
of Polish companies listed on the Warsaw Stock American Journal of Business 20(2), 11-18.
analysis showed that the Pearson coefficient equals Performance. SSRN Working Paper Series.
Exchange are following a  conservative strategy. Harris, A. (2005). Working Capital Management: Difficult,
0.04 for CA/TA and -0.01 for CL/TL. The hypothesis Nobaneee, H. And AlHajjar, M., (2009b). Optimizing
Conservative strategy should be connected to lower but Rewarding. Financial Executive 21(4), 52-53.
should be rejected. Working Capital Management. SSRN Working Paper
returns on assets and equity. The results of hypothesis Gajdka, J., Walińska, E. (1998). Zarządzanie Finansowe.
The hypothesis stated that for moderate strategy CL/ Series. http://ssrn.com/abstract=1528894, pages
verification are as follows. Teoria i praktyka. Warszawa: FRR. 21.Richards, Verlyn, D., Laughlin Eugene, J. (1980).
TL and CA/TA should be correlated to ROE in the
The hypothesis stated that for aggressive strategy A Cash Conversion Cycle Approach to Liquidity Analysis.
same direction. The analysis showed that a  Pearson Garcia-Teruel, P.J. and Martinez-Solano, P., (2007). Effects
CL/TL should be positively correlated to ROA and of Working Capital Management on SME Profitability. Financial Management. Spring 1980, pp. 32-38.
coefficient equals to 0.02 for CA/TA and 0 for CL/
CA/TA should be negatively correlated to ROA. The International Journal of Managerial Finance. Vol. 3, Issue Sierpińska, M., Nesterak, J. (1996). Przedsiębiorstwo na
TL in a first scenario and 0.08 for CA/TA and -0.16
analysis showed that the Pearson coefficient equals 2, pp 164-177. rynku kapitałowym. Łódź: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu
for CL/TL in a second scenario. Results are partially
0.02 for both ratios. Results are not significant and Gupta, M. C., Huefner, R. J. (1972). A Cluster Analysis Łódzkiego.
significant and the hypothesis should be rejected.
the hypothesis should be rejected. Study of Financial Ratios and Industry Characteristics. Van-Horne, J. C, Wachowicz J. M. (2004). Fundamentals of
The lack of relationship between working capital
The hypothesis stated that for conservative strategy Journal of Accounting Research 10(1), 77-95. Financial Management (12th Edition). New York: Prentice
indicators and profitability ratios may indicate
CL/TL should be positively correlated to ROA and Hall Publishers.
weak and not integrated management in the field of
CA/TA should be negatively correlated to ROA. The
liquidity, risk and profitability in companies listed
analysis showed that a  Pearson coefficient equals
on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. Development of
-0.02 for both ratios. Results are not significant and
a  market and knowledge in future may change this
the hypothesis should be rejected.
situation.

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