Capital structure decisions and business excellence: benchmarking financial performance in Vietnamese listed companies

This study investigates how capital structure decisions affect business performance and financial excellence among 184 non-financial firms listed on Vietnam's HOSE and HNX exchanges during 2019-2023. Using feasible generalised least squares (FGLS) regression to correct for heteroskedasticity and autocorrelation, firm performance is assessed through return on assets (ROA), return on equity (ROE), and Tobin's Q. Capital structure is measured by debt-to-assets, total debt, short-term debt, and equity-to-capital ratios. Results show that higher debt-to-assets ratios significantly reduce ROA and Tobin's Q, consistent with financial distress theory, while total debt positively affects ROE, indicating optimal leverage enhances shareholder returns. Short-term debt weakens profitability, while earnings volatility shows positive effects, indicating firms' adaptive capabilities during uncertainty. The findings suggest Vietnamese firms should maintain moderate leverage for financial flexibility. This study contributes to business excellence research by providing empirical benchmarks for financial resilience and value creation in emerging markets.