Many argue that there is a trade off between profitability and liquidity. However, many studies have found that the profitability can increase with an efficient Working Capital Management. Correctly allocating cash flows to where and when it is needed increases liquidity and simultaneously increasing profitability. The purpose of this study is to develop the research on the relationship between Working Capital Management and profitability by investigating how it is affected by different company characteristics. A quantitative method was applied with philosophical stances in objectivism and positivism and deductive theory was used to approach the subject. From the theoretical framework, five hypotheses were established and statistically tested in order to answer our research question. The first hypothesis was formulated to confirm previous research, while the remaining two aimed at providing both a theoretical and practical contribution to existing knowledge. The thesis centers on the Cash Conversion Cycle, a metric of how fast a company turns purchased products into profit, with Gross Profit Margin as the measure of profitability. The data analyzed is financial information from 2012, collected from a secondary source, Business Retriever database. In order to fulfill the purpose, hypotheses were tested. The first centered in previous research of the subject, while two were introduced based on research of company characteristics. This was tested in a cross-sectional study on the Swedish wholesale industry, covering a sample of 1,485 companies. The companies were segmented by size and whether they were listed or not. By using correlation and regression analyses, the relationship between Working Capital Management and profitability is compared between the different company groups. The conclusion drawn from the study is that there is a positive relationship between the Cash Conversion Cycle and profitability, inconsistent with previous research. However, strong significant results indicated that smaller firms are returning a higher profit, regardless the level of Cash Conversion Cycle. No difference was found in the sensitivity to changes in Working Capital Management strategies. This was true also for non-listed firms, although they were performing worse than listed firms in accordance to the theory presented. The foremost conclusion from the analysis is the weak explanatory power of the Cash Conversion Cycle on Gross Profit Margin. A debate is therefore included, discussing the possibility of lurking variables influencing the results. Keywords: Working Capital Management, Cash Conversion Cycle, Profitability, size, public, private, trade credit, wholesale industry, Sweden

Bachelor-Arbeit Univ. St. Gallen, 2008.

M.Econ. / Please refer to full text to view abstract

Syfte:                  Working Capital Management handlar om rörelsekapitalstyrning och är enligt litteraturen av vikt speciellt för mindre företag. Anledningen är att deras kapitalstruktur består av en hög andel omsättningstillgångar och kortfristiga skulder. Working Capital Management innebär i stora drag att optimera rörelsekapitalet i företaget. Eftersom denna uppsats är en pilotstudie är syftet att göra en förundersökning om arbetet med Working Capital Management inom mindre och medelstora företag. Avstampet tas i forskningsfrågorna Använder sig mindre och medelstora företag av Working Capital Management? Känner de till begreppet? Metod:                Den vetenskapliga metoden är en deduktiv, kvalitativ forskningsansats. Primärdata samlas in via webenkäter som sedan analyseras och tolkas utifrån en kvalitativt och hermeneutisk ansats. Slutsatser:           Begreppet Working Capital Management överlag inte är något som de mindre och medelstora företagen vet innebörden av. Respondenterna anger att de inte använder sig av detta begrepp men svar på andra frågor motsäger detta då flertalet av de modeller och nyckeltal som ingår i begreppet ändock används.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of this report is to establish whether a statistically significant relationship exists between a company's profitability and its working capital management. Profitability is measured by the return on assets, return on equities and Tobin's q ratio - the dependent variables in the report. Working capital management is assessed by inventory period, receivable period, payable period, operating cycle, cash conversion cycle and operating cash flow to total assets ratio - the independent variables in the report. Other independent variables applied are leverage and real gross domestic product growth rate. The report used a sample of working capital intensive companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange for the period of 1995-2005. These companies are divided into four sub-samples based on their working capital intensiveness. Companies with a ratio of current assets to total assets ranging from 0% to 24,99%, and from 25,00% to 49,99% are regarded as less working capital intensive. Companies with a ratio of current assets to total assets ratio ranging from 50,00% to 74.99%, and from 75,00% to 100.00% are considered high working capital intensive. The results of this research reveal that there is a positive statistically significant relationship between profitability and operating cash flow to total assets ratio. Therefore, companies with positive operating cash flow figures are likely to be profitable. The results exhibit a negative relationship between profitability and leverage. This is an indication that in order to increase its profitability, a company needs to reduce its debt ratio and keep it within the optimum capital structure level. The relationship between profitability and other independent variables is not consistent, indicating variation in working capital policies across industries. There is also a positive relationship between profitability and real GDP growth rate, although this is reflected during 2000 only. This indicates that companies' profitability is influenced by the overall economic performance. The report further evaluates whether less working capital intensive companies are more profitable as compared to high working capital intensive companies. Evidence shows that there is no difference in the profitability of less working capital intensive companies and high working capital intensive companies. However, there is confirmation that less working capital intensive companies have a high Tobin's q ratio as compared to high working capital intensive companies. This means that the percentage difference between the market value and assets is higher for less working capital intensive companies as compared to that of high working capital intensive companies. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie verslag is om vas te stel of 'n statisties betekenisvolle verhouding tussen die winsgewendheid en die bedryfskapitaal bestuur van 'n maatskappy bestaan. Winsgewendheid word gemeet aan die opbrengs op bates, opbrengs op aandeelhouersbelang en Tobin se q-verhouding - die afhanklike veranderlikes in die verslag. Bedryfskapitaal bestuur word gemeet deur voorraadperiode, debiteursperiode, krediteursperiode, operasionele siklus, kontantomsettingsilkus en kontantvloei uit bedryfsaktiwiteite tot totale bates-verhouding - die onafhanklike veranderlikes in die verslag - te bepaal. Ander onafhanklike veranderlikes aangewend is skuldkapitaal verhouding en groei-tempo van die reele binnelandse produk. Die verslag het gebruik gemaak van 'n seleksie van bedryfskapitaal intensiewe maatskappye wat op die Johannesburgse Aandelebeurs genoteer was vir die tydperk 1995-2005. Hierdie maatskappye is in vier sub-groepe verdeel volgens bedryfskapitaal intensiwiteit. Maatskappye met 'n verhouding van bedryfsbates tot totale bates tussen 0% en 24,99%. en 25,00% tot 49,99% word as minder bedryfskapitaal intensief beskou, terwyl maatskappye waar hierdie verhouding tussen 50,00% en 74,99%, en 75,00% en 100,00% Iê as hoogs bedryfskapitaal intensief beskou word. Die resultate van hierdie navorsing dui op 'n statisties betekenisvolle verhouding- tussen winsgewendheid en die verhouding van kontantvloei uit bedryfsaktiwiteite tot fatale bates. Dus is maatskappye met positiewe kontantvloei-syfers uit bedryfsaktiwiteite waarskynlik winsgewend. Die resultate dui op 'n negatiewe verhouding tussen winsgewendheid en skuldkapitaal-verhouding, wat daarop dui dat 'n maatskappy die skuld-verhouding moet verminder en binne die optimale kapitaalstruktuur vlak te bly om winsgewendheid te vcrbeter. Die verhouding tussen winsgewendheid en ander onafhanklike veranderlikes is nie konstant nie, wat op beleidsverskille dui ten opsigte van bedryfskapitaal tussen verskillende nywerhede. Daar is 'n positiewe verhouding tussen winsgewendheid en groei in reele binnelandse produk, selfs al word hierdie verhouding slegs gedurende 2000 gesien. Dit dui daarop dat die winsgewendheid van maatskappye beinvloed word deur die algehele ekonomiese toestand. Die navorsing ondersoek verder of minder bedryfskapitaal intensiewe maatskappye meer winsgewend is as meer bedryfskapitaal intensiewe maatskappye. Resultate dui geen verskil tussen die winsgewendheid van minder bedryfskapitaal intensiewe maatskappye en meer bedryfskapitaal intensiewe maatskappye aan nie, maar bevestig wel dat minder bedryfskapitaal intensiewe maatskappye 'n hoër Tobin se q-verhouding toon. Dit beteken dat die persentasie verskil tussen markwaarde en totale bates hoër is vir minder bedryfskapitaal intensiewe maatskappye as vir meer bedryfskapitaal intensiewe maatdkappye.

This master’s paper researches a problem of an effective usage of the working capital because this issue is relevant to the various Lithuanian companies. It also surveys various Lithuanian and foreign authors’ estimation indicators of the working capital and theoretical aspects of the analysis. The analysis of the dynamics, structure and the turnover of the company’s working capital has been accomplished in this paper. The estimation indicators of the working capital efficiency have been analysed; and with the help of the relevant indicators analysis the tie-up and reasons between them have been established, which, in fact, determined the alterations of these indicators. The prognostication of the ambit of the company’s working capital has been established by the means of the linear trend function and exploitation of dynamics series; and the determination with the Baumol model of the optimum demand for the finance has been estimated. The author’s formulated hypothesis of the research work has been confirmed, that the estimation indicators of the company’s working capital reveal the financial state of the company and makes a possibility to decide about the effectiveness of company’s work.

The financial state of the most companies was significantly challenged by the last decade. Thus, financial managers must be aware of all factors that can contribute to the firm`s profitability in order to fight unstable economical environment. Working capital management`s effect on profitability has been raised recently and its importance is already known. This thesis aims to dig deeper into the relationship between working capital management and firm`s profitability across different sectors and different time periods. The subject for the empirical analysis are 908 UK manufacturing and 315 construction firms during the period of 2006-2013. The results indicate about the strong negative relationship between working capital, measured as cash conversion cycle (CCC) and gross operating profitability. Thus, it is an indicator that working capital and its characteristics must be included in the firm`s financial planning.

Ausgehend vom Bedarf an unternehmensinternen, relativ marktunabhängigen Maßnahmen zur Stärkung der Innenfinanzierungskraft von Unternehmen, kann die angestrebte Liquiditätssicherung und Ertragsstabilisierung aus einer effizienten Steuerung der Working-Capital-beeinflussenden Prozesse hervorgehen. Der vorliegende Beitrag fokussiert dabei die definitorische Abgrenzung des Working Capital und des Working Capital Management. Außerdem werden die finanziellen Wirkungen des WCM aufgezeigt. Eine detaillierte Betrachtung der das Working-Capital-beeinflussenden Prozesse verdeutlicht die Komplexität des Prozessgefüges und die Notwendigkeit eines ganzheitlichen Ansatzes zur Working-Capital-Steuerung.

Sammanfattning Inom de flesta företag finns möjligheter att påverka rörelsekapitalet genom Working Capital Management. Detta kan även förkortas WCM, vilket enligt Deloof (2003) kan definieras som arbetet med att styra företagets rörelsekapital. De flesta företag har dessutom avsevärda summor uppbundna i rörelsekapitalet, vilket medför att WCM har en betydande roll på företagets lönsamhet. I strävan efter att nå ett optimalt rörelsekapital finns det dock risk att företagen drabbas av negativa effekter. Syfte: Denna studie syftar till att undersöka effekterna av WCM och hur dessa effekter påverkas utifrån hanteringen av WCM. Metod: Studien består av en kvantitativ enkätundersökning riktad till svenska tillverkande företag. Analys: Att frigöra kapital beskrivs som det främsta motivet för att genomföra WCM. Det framgår också att initiativ till beslut om en minskning av rörelsekapitalet är centraliserade och det är sällsynt att initiativ startar i den operativa verksamheten. Det sker däremot en nära samverkan i processen av en minskning av rörelsekapitalet mellan de som initierar WCM och den operativa verksamheten. Studien visar att de flesta företag inte upplever några negativa effekter av WCM. De negativa effekter som uppmärksammas inträffar främst i produktionen och gentemot kunder. Slutsats: Svenska tillverkande företag anser att WCM är en högt prioriterad fråga. De beslut som fattas inom WCM medför att ju längre bort från verksamheten besluten tas desto fler negativa effekter medför detta. I arbetet med WCM förekommer en hög grad av samverkan. Det har även framkommit att ökad samverkan mellan ledning och den operativa verksamheten minskar negativa effekter i samband med WCM. Nyckelord: WCM, Working Capital Management, rörelsekapital, rörelsekapitalbindning, samverkan, beslut, negativa effekter / Abstract Most companies are able to influence the working capital through use of Working Capital Management (WCM). According to Deloof (2003), WCM can be defined as the process of controlling a company’s working capital. Since many companies have substantial sums tied up in the working capital, WCM can have a significant role in the company’s profitability. In the pursuit of finding an optimal working capital, there is a risk that companies will experience negative effects.  Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of WCM and how these effects are influenced by how the WCM is managed within the company. Methodology: The study consists of a quantitative survey directed to Swedish manufacturing companies. Analysis: Releasing capital is put forward as the main motive for WCM. It also appears that the initiative for decisions regarding reduction of working capital tend to be centralized, since these initiatives rarely start in the business operations. There is however a close interaction in the process of a reduction in working capital between those who initiate WCM and the operations. The majority of companies within this study do not experience any negative effects of WCM, but when it occurs it is mainly within the production processes or in customer relations. Conclusion: Swedish manufacturing companies believe that WCM is of high priority. This study indicates that negative effects will occur increasingly if decision-making is centralized. Working with WCM requires a high degree of collaboration as the results of this study also points out that through increased interaction between management and operations, negative effects associated with WCM can be reduced. Keywords: WCM, Working Capital Management, working capital, collaboration, decisions and negative effects

Ausgehend vom Bedarf an unternehmensinternen, relativ marktunabhängigen Maßnahmen zur Stärkung der Innenfinanzierungskraft von Unternehmen, kann die angestrebte Liquiditätssicherung und Ertragsstabilisierung aus einer effizienten Steuerung der Working-Capital-beeinflussenden Prozesse hervorgehen. Der vorliegende Beitrag fokussiert dabei die definitorische Abgrenzung des Working Capital und des Working Capital Management. Außerdem werden die finanziellen Wirkungen des WCM aufgezeigt. Eine detaillierte Betrachtung der das Working-Capital-beeinflussenden Prozesse verdeutlicht die Komplexität des Prozessgefüges und die Notwendigkeit eines ganzheitlichen Ansatzes zur Working-Capital-Steuerung.