IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jjrfmx/v18y2025i9p510-d1749407.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Impact of Liquidity and Leverage on the Financial Performance of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange-Listed Consumer Goods Firms

Author

Listed:
  • Floyd Khoza

    (School of Development Studies, University of Mpumalanga, Mbombela Campus, Mbombela 1200, South Africa)

Abstract

Understanding the role of liquidity and leverage is crucial in assessing financial performance, particularly in the consumer goods sector. This study examined the impact of liquidity and leverage on financial performance, using a sample of 13 consumer goods firms listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) from 2014 to 2024. Despite the present literature on this association, few traceable studies have investigated this phenomenon, and there is a dearth of literature in this sector. The dependent variable for this study was financial performance, and the return on assets (ROA) was employed as a proxy for financial performance. The independent variables employed for this study were liquidity (LIQ), leverage (LEV), and the quadratic term of leverage (LEV2). However, Net profit margin (NPM), inventory turnover (INVT), average collection period (ACP), firm size (FS), and its quadratic term (FS2) were the control variables. The researcher performed the Durbin–Wu–Hausman test, the Breusch–Pagan LM test, redundant fixed effect testing, the Hausman test, and the panel heteroskedasticity LR test before employing the suitable model. After employing the panel least squares (PLS), the fixed effects (FE) model was considered appropriate and efficient for this study. Applying the model, the researcher found a statistically significant and positive impact of LIQ, LEV2, NPM, and FS2 on ROA. Furthermore, a statistically significant and negative impact of ACP on ROA. However, the impact of LEV and FS was negative and statistically insignificant on ROA. Furthermore, the impact of INVT on ROA was statistically positive and insignificant. To improve the financial performance of the firms efficiently, this study recommends that financial managers of consumer goods firms should pay special attention to maintaining and monitoring a healthy liquidity ratio and implement sound working capital management. Furthermore, integrate the strategic liquidity planning into their financial decision-making. The findings highlight that while a moderate level of leverage might not increase financial performance, a strategic increase in debt to a certain optimal level can improve the financial performance of a firm.

Suggested Citation

  • Floyd Khoza, 2025. "The Impact of Liquidity and Leverage on the Financial Performance of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange-Listed Consumer Goods Firms," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-24, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jjrfmx:v:18:y:2025:i:9:p:510-:d:1749407
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1911-8074/18/9/510/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1911-8074/18/9/510/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. James Agyei & Shaorong Sun & Eugene Abrokwah, 2020. "Trade-Off Theory Versus Pecking Order Theory: Ghanaian Evidence," SAGE Open, , vol. 10(3), pages 21582440209, July.
    2. Joshua Abor, 2005. "The effect of capital structure on profitability: an empirical analysis of listed firms in Ghana," Journal of Risk Finance, Emerald Group Publishing, vol. 6(5), pages 438-445, November.
    3. Tung Duy Bui & Huan Huu Nguyen & Vu Minh Ngo, 2021. "Financial leverage and performance of SMEs in Vietnam: Evidence from the post-crisis period," Economics and Business Letters, Oviedo University Press, vol. 10(3), pages 229-239.
    4. Murray Z. Frank & Vidhan K. Goyal, 2009. "Capital Structure Decisions: Which Factors Are Reliably Important?," Financial Management, Financial Management Association International, vol. 38(1), pages 1-37, March.
    5. Judith L. Walls & Pascual Berrone & Phillip H. Phan, 2012. "Corporate governance and environmental performance: is there really a link?," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(8), pages 885-913, August.
    6. José López-Gracia & Francisco Sogorb-Mira, 2008. "Testing trade-off and pecking order theories financing SMEs," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 31(2), pages 117-136, August.
    7. Nazim Hussain & Ugo Rigoni & René P. Orij, 2018. "Corporate Governance and Sustainability Performance: Analysis of Triple Bottom Line Performance," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 149(2), pages 411-432, May.
    8. Benjamin Melamed & Rudolf Leuschner & Weiwei Chen & Dale S. Rogers & Min Cao, 2022. "Inventory turns and finite-horizon Little’s Laws," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 317(1), pages 129-146, October.
    9. Talatu K. Bagana & Dr. Saheed A. Lateef & Prof. Emeka E. Ene, 2024. "Effect of Liquidity Management on Financial Performance of Nigerian Consumer Goods Manufacturing Firms," International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation, International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI), vol. 11(6), pages 210-229, June.
    10. Joshua Abor, 2007. "Debt policy and performance of SMEs: Evidence from Ghanaian and South African firms," Journal of Risk Finance, Emerald Group Publishing, vol. 8(4), pages 364-379, August.
    11. Joshua Abor, 2005. "The effect of capital structure on profitability: an empirical analysis of listed firms in Ghana," Journal of Risk Finance, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 6(5), pages 438-445, December.
    12. Opler, Tim C & Titman, Sheridan, 1994. "Financial Distress and Corporate Performance," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 49(3), pages 1015-1040, July.
    13. Stephen A. Ross, 1977. "The Determination of Financial Structure: The Incentive-Signalling Approach," Bell Journal of Economics, The RAND Corporation, vol. 8(1), pages 23-40, Spring.
    14. John W. M. Mwamba & Jules C. Mba & Anaclet K. Kitenge, 2025. "Navigating Uncertainty in an Emerging Market: Data-Centric Portfolio Strategies and Systemic Risk Assessment in the Johannesburg Stock Exchange," IJFS, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-30, March.
    15. Mohamed Aymen Ben Moussa & Amira El Feidi, 2023. "The Impact of Leverage on Financial Performance of Tunisian Quoted Firms," International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), vol. 0(4), pages 101-116.
    16. Floyd Khoza & Daniel Makina & Patricia Lindelwa Makoni, 2024. "Key Determinants of Corporate Governance in Financial Institutions: Evidence from South Africa," Risks, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-13, May.
    17. Pilar Giraldez-Puig & Emma Berenguer, 2018. "Family Female Executives and Firm Financial Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-15, November.
    18. L. R. Wray, 1990. "Money and Credit in Capitalist Economies," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 474.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ekote Nelson Nnoko & Yuji Maeda, 2023. "Impacts and risks of borrowing on corporate performance: evidence from Japan and Sub-Saharan Africa," Asia-Pacific Journal of Regional Science, Springer, vol. 7(1), pages 119-133, March.
    2. Mahuya Basu, 2024. "Mediating effect of capital structure in determining firms' financial performances of Indian SMEs: a structural equation modelling approach," International Journal of Accounting and Finance, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 12(1/2), pages 26-46.
    3. Kim, Sang-Joon & Bae, John & Oh, Hannah, 2019. "Financing strategically: The moderation effect of marketing activities on the bifurcated relationship between debt level and firm valuation of small and medium enterprises," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 663-681.
    4. Leo Vashkor Dewri, 2022. "A Critical Assessment of Interrelationship Among Corporate Governance, Financial Performance, Refined Economic Value Added to Measure Firm Value and Return on Stock," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 13(4), pages 2718-2759, December.
    5. Suzan Dsouza & Krishnamoorthy Kathavarayan & Franklin Mathias & Dharmesh Bhatia & Abdallah AlKhawaja, 2025. "Leveraging Success: The Hidden Peak in Debt and Firm Performance," Econometrics, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-22, June.
    6. Bayan M Arqawi & William J Bertin & Laurie Prather, 2014. "The impact of product warranties on the capital structure of Australian firms," Australian Journal of Management, Australian School of Business, vol. 39(2), pages 207-225, May.
    7. Zarina Abdul Salam & Roghayeh Shourkashti, 2019. "Capital Structure and Firm Performance in Emerging Market: An Empirical Analysis of Malaysian Companies," International Journal of Academic Research in Accounting, Finance and Management Sciences, Human Resource Management Academic Research Society, International Journal of Academic Research in Accounting, Finance and Management Sciences, vol. 9(3), pages 70-82, July.
    8. M N, Nikhil & S Shenoy, Sandeep & Chakraborty, Suman & B M, Lithin, 2023. "Does the Ind AS moderate the relationship between capital structure and firm performance?," MPRA Paper 119541, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 15 Oct 2023.
    9. Matthew Adeolu Abata & Stephen Oseko Migiro & Joseph Olorunfemi Akande & Raredzo Layton, 2017. "Does Capital Structure Impact on the Performance of South African Listed Firms?," Acta Universitatis Danubius. OEconomica, Danubius University of Galati, issue 13(6), pages 334-350, DECEMBER.
    10. Emmanuel Nkansah, 2025. "Effects of Debt Financing Decisions on Profitability: A Comparison of USA and Europe Biopharmaceutical Industry," IJFS, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-23, July.
    11. M N, Nikhil & S Shenoy, Sandeep & Chakraborty, Suman & B M, Lithin, 2023. "Is the Nexus Between Capital Structure and Firm Performance Asymmetric? An Emerging Market Perspective," MPRA Paper 119669, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 17 Nov 2023.
    12. Jesús Pinillos & Hugo Macías & Luis Castrillon & Rolando Eslava & Sadan De la Cruz, 2025. "Analysis of the Capital Structure of Latin American Companies in Light of Trade-Off and Pecking Order Theories," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-18, July.
    13. Shoaib Khan & Tahir Akhtar & Ameen Qasem, 2024. "Dynamics of capital structure determinants: empirical evidence from GCC countries," Future Business Journal, Springer, vol. 10(1), pages 1-18, December.
    14. Kanwal Iqbal Khan & Faisal Qadeer & Mário Nuno Mata & José Chavaglia Neto & Qurat ul An Sabir & Jéssica Nunes Martins & José António Filipe, 2021. "Core Predictors of Debt Specialization: A New Insight to Optimal Capital Structure," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 9(9), pages 1-25, April.
    15. Mamunur Rashid & Fauzias Mat Nor & Izani Ibrahim, 2013. "Evidence of Dividend Catering Theory in Malaysia: Implications for Investor Sentiment," Contemporary Economics, Vizja University, vol. 7(4), December.
    16. Obi Berko Obeng Damoah & Augustine Awuah Peprah, 2021. "Synthesis of small and medium enterprise research in Ghana," Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, Springer;UNESCO Chair in Entrepreneurship, vol. 11(1), pages 451-468, December.
    17. Muhammad Akhtar & Kong Yusheng & Muhammad Haris & Qurat Ul Ain & Hafiz Mustansar Javaid, 2022. "Impact of financial leverage on sustainable growth, market performance, and profitability," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 55(2), pages 737-774, May.
    18. Tung Duy Bui & Huan Huu Nguyen & Vu Minh Ngo, 2021. "Financial leverage and performance of SMEs in Vietnam: Evidence from the post-crisis period," Economics and Business Letters, Oviedo University Press, vol. 10(3), pages 229-239.
    19. Rajesh Desai & Jay Desai, 2020. "Moderating Effect Of Firm Size On Capital Structure Determinants: Evidence From Indian Food Processing Industry," Copernican Journal of Finance & Accounting, Uniwersytet Mikolaja Kopernika, vol. 9(3), pages 61-81.
    20. Elena Alexandra Nenu & Georgeta Vintilă & Ştefan Cristian Gherghina, 2018. "The Impact of Capital Structure on Risk and Firm Performance: Empirical Evidence for the Bucharest Stock Exchange Listed Companies," IJFS, MDPI, vol. 6(2), pages 1-29, April.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jjrfmx:v:18:y:2025:i:9:p:510-:d:1749407. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.