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Net working capital, cash flow and performance of UK SMEs

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  • Godfred Adjapong Afrifa

Abstract

Purpose - – This paper aims to examine the influence of cash flow on the relationship between net working capital and firm performance. Design/methodology/approach - – The paper uses unbalanced panel data regression analysis on a sample of 6,926 non-financial small and medium enterprises in the UK for the period from 2004 to 2013. Findings - – The results indicate a strong concave relationship between net working capital and performance in the absence of cash flow; however, the relationship becomes convex after taking cash flow into consideration. The results further show that firms with cash flow below the sample median exhibit lower investment in working capital, but firms with cash flow above the sample median have higher investment in working capital. The results suggest that managers should consider their firms cash flow when determining the appropriate investment to be made in working capital, so as to improve performance. Practical implications - – Overall, the results suggest that whilst firms with limited cash flow should strive to reduce investment in working capital, firms with available cash flow should increase investment in working capital to improve performance. Originality/value - – This current study incorporates the relevance of cash flow in assessing the association between working capital management and firm performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Godfred Adjapong Afrifa, 2016. "Net working capital, cash flow and performance of UK SMEs," Review of Accounting and Finance, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 15(1), pages 21-44, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:eme:rafpps:v:15:y:2016:i:1:p:21-44
    DOI: 10.1108/RAF-02-2015-0031
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Minhas Akbar & Ahsan Akbar & Muhammad Umar Draz, 2021. "Global Financial Crisis, Working Capital Management, and Firm Performance: Evidence From an Islamic Market Index," SAGE Open, , vol. 11(2), pages 21582440211, May.
    2. Didik Susilo & Sugeng Wahyudi & Irene Rini Demi Pangestuti, 2020. "Profitability Determinants of Manufacturing Firms in Indonesia," International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), vol. 0(2), pages 53-64.
    3. Najib H. S Farhan & Faozi A. Almaqtari & Ebrahim Mohammed Al-Matari & Nabil Ahmed M. SENAN & Waleed M. Alahdal & Saddam A. Hazaea, 2021. "Working Capital Management Policies in Indian Listed Firms: A State-Wise Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-25, April.
    4. Ala’a Adden Abuhommous & Tareq Mashoka, 2018. "A dynamic approach to accounts receivable: the case of Jordanian firms," Eurasian Business Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 8(2), pages 171-191, June.
    5. Duo Xu & Christopher Gan & Zhaohua Li & Pengcheng Wang, 2021. "Earnings, Working Capital and Dividend Payout: Evidence from the London Stock Exchange," Annals of Economics and Finance, Society for AEF, vol. 22(2), pages 421-449, November.
    6. Umar Abbas Ibrahim & Abdulqadir Isiaka, 2021. "Working capital management and financial performance of non financial quoted companies in Nigeria," International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147-4478), Center for the Strategic Studies in Business and Finance, vol. 10(3), pages 241-258, April.
    7. Wetzel, Philipp & Hofmann, Erik, 2019. "Supply chain finance, financial constraints and corporate performance: An explorative network analysis and future research agenda," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 216(C), pages 364-383.
    8. Afrifa, Godfred & Tingbani, Ishmael, 2017. "Working Capital Management, Cash Flow and SMEs’ Performance," MPRA Paper 82894, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised Oct 2017.
    9. Jani Saastamoinen & Hanna Savolainen, 2021. "Does a leopard change its spots? Auditors and lawyers as valuation experts for minority shareholders in the judicial appraisal of private firms," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 48(3-4), pages 613-636, March.
    10. Dary, Stanley K. & James, Harvey S., 2019. "Does investment in trade credit matter for profitability? Evidence from publicly listed agro-food firms," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 237-250.
    11. Alaa Adden A. Abuhommous, 2017. "Net Working Capital and Firm Growth," International Review of Management and Marketing, Econjournals, vol. 7(4), pages 131-137.
    12. Duong Phuong Thao Pham & Thi Cam Ha Huynh, 2020. "The Impact of Trade Credit Investment on Manufacturing Firms' Profitability: Evidence from Vietnam," Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis, Mendel University Press, vol. 68(4), pages 775-796.
    13. Sharif N. Ahkam & Khairul Alom, 2019. "Liquidity, Level of Working Capital Investment, and Performance in an Emerging Economy," International Journal of Business and Economics, School of Management Development, Feng Chia University, Taichung, Taiwan, vol. 18(3), pages 307-328, December.
    14. Mattia Iotti & Giuseppe Bonazzi, 2023. "Financial Sustainability in Agri-Food Companies: The Case of Members of the PDO Parma Ham Consortium," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-31, February.
    15. H. Kent Baker & Debidutta Pattnaik & Satish Kumar, 2022. "Trade credit and firm profitability: Empirical evidence from India," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 27(4), pages 3934-3953, October.
    16. Guowei Li & Zhe Luo & Muhammad Anwar & Yuqiu Lu & Xiantao Wang & Xuening Liu, 2020. "Intellectual capital and the efficiency of SMEs in the transition economy China; Do financial resources strengthen the routes?," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(7), pages 1-25, July.
    17. Godfred Adjapong Afrifa & Ahmad Alshehabi & Ishmael Tingbani & Hussein Halabi, 2021. "Abnormal inventory and performance in manufacturing companies: evidence from the trade credit channel," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 56(2), pages 581-617, February.
    18. Afrifa, Godfred Adjapong & Gyapong, Ernest & Monem, Reza M., 2018. "Product differentiation, market dynamics and the value relevance of trade payables: Evidence from UK listed firms," Journal of Contemporary Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 14(3), pages 235-253.
    19. Rubens Correa Junior & Augusto Hauber Gameiro, 2020. "Cash Flow in an Agribusiness Restructuring Process," Journal of Agricultural Studies, Macrothink Institute, vol. 8(4), pages 589-609, December.
    20. Dariusz Nowak & Sławomir Gorczynski, 2020. "A Qualitative Approach to Trade Credit in Business Organisations," Business Management, D. A. Tsenov Academy of Economics, Svishtov, Bulgaria, issue 1 Year 20, pages 25-41.
    21. Giuseppe Bonazzi & Paolo Camanzi & Giovanni Ferri & Elisa Manghi & Mattia Iotti, 2021. "Economic Sustainability of Pig Slaughtering Firms in the Production Chain of Denomination of Origin Hams in Italy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-18, July.

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