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Capital structure of listed Portuguese companies

Author

Listed:
  • Zélia Maria Silva Serrasqueiro
  • Márcia Cristina Rêgo Rogão

Abstract

Purpose - This study aims to evaluate the impact of listed Portuguese companies' specific determinants on adjustment of actual debt towards target debt ratio. The specific determinants on adjustment of actual debt towards target debt ratio that we consider are: asset tangibility, size, profitability and market to book ratio. Design/methodology/approach - Dynamic panel estimators are used to determine adjustment of the actual level of debt towards optimal level of debt, revealing the level of transaction costs borne by companies. OLS regressions are also used, in order to estimate the impacts of companies' specific determinants on debt adjustment. Findings - The results suggest that transaction costs are relevant in listed Portuguese companies' access to debt. Tangibility of assets and size are determinants that contribute for a greater adjustment of debt towards optimal level. The results also suggest that the capital structure decisions of listed Portuguese companies can be explained in the light of trade‐off and pecking order theories, and not according to what is forecast by market timing theory. Originality/value - Through this study, the level of adjustment of actual debt towards target debt ratio in the context of companies belonging to under‐developed capital markets are determined, in the particular case of this study, belonging to the Portuguese capital market. Furthermore, from target debt ratio depending on companies' specific determinants, the explanatory power of trade‐off, pecking order and market timing theories are investigated. The results contribute for a deeper understanding about companies' capital structure decisions.

Suggested Citation

  • Zélia Maria Silva Serrasqueiro & Márcia Cristina Rêgo Rogão, 2009. "Capital structure of listed Portuguese companies," Review of Accounting and Finance, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 8(1), pages 54-75, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:eme:rafpps:v:8:y:2009:i:1:p:54-75
    DOI: 10.1108/14757700910934238
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Matthew Adeolu Abata & Stephen Oseko Migiro, 2016. "Capital Structure and Firm Performance in Nigerian-Listed Companies," Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies, AMH International, vol. 8(3), pages 54-74.
    2. Jaroslav Mazanec, 2023. "Capital Structure and Corporate Performance: An Empirical Analysis from Central Europe," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-19, April.
    3. Stavros H. Arvanitis & Irakleia S. Tzigkounaki & Theodoros V. Stamatopoulos & Eleftherios I. Thalassinos, 2012. "Dynamic Approach of Capital Structure of European Shipping Companies," International Journal of Business and Economic Sciences Applied Research (IJBESAR), Democritus University of Thrace (DUTH), Kavala Campus, Greece, vol. 5(3), pages 33-63, December.
    4. Bojana Vukovic & Suncica Milutinovic & Nikola Milicevic & Dejan Jaksic, 2020. "The Analysis of Indebtedness of Retail Companies in the Balkan Countries," Economic Studies journal, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences - Economic Research Institute, issue 3, pages 83-104.
    5. Bartholdy, Jan & Mateus, Cesário, 2011. "Debt and taxes for private firms," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 20(3), pages 177-189, June.
    6. Mazlina Mustapha Author_Email: mazlina05@gmail.com & Hashanah Bt Ismail & Badriyah Bt Minai, 2011. "Determinants Of Debt Structure: Empirical Evidence From Malaysia," 2nd International Conference on Business and Economic Research (2nd ICBER 2011) Proceeding 2011-490, Conference Master Resources.
    7. Aamer Shahzad & Muhammad Azeem & Mian Sajid Nazir & Xuan Vinh Vo & Nguyen T. M. Linh, 2021. "The determinants of capital structure: Evidence from SAARC countries," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 26(4), pages 6471-6487, October.
    8. Chen, Dar-Hsin & Chen, Chun-Da & Chen, Jianguo & Huang, Yu-Fang, 2013. "Panel data analyses of the pecking order theory and the market timing theory of capital structure in Taiwan," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 27(C), pages 1-13.

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