Capital Structure and Firm Performance: Moderating Role of Business Strategy and Competitive Intensity

Abstract

The optimal blend of debt and equity financing plays a vital role not only in reducing the overall cost of capital but also helps in enhancing the overall performance of the firms. The purpose of the present research was three folds. Firstly, this study investigated the relationship between capital structure and performance of non-financial firms of Pakistan. Secondly, the novel contribution of the current study was to examine the moderating role of business strategy between the relationship of capital structure and firm’s performance. Thirdly, the present study also contributed in the existing literature by exploring the extent to which firm’s competitive intensity moderated the leverage-performance relationship. The data of 333 listed non-financial firms of Pakistan over the period of eight years (2006-2013) was selected for the final analysis. Both book and market based measures were utilized to compute the performance of the selected firms whereas capital structure of the firms was measured through three different proxies. Business strategy was divided into four strategic categories and Herfindahl-Hirschman index was selected to compute the competitive intensity of the firms. The results of the study depicted that capital structure negatively and significantly influence the accounting measures of performance whereas the relationship between capital structure and market performance (Q ratio) was significantly positive. In addition, the results showed that 31% of the selected sample firms were inclined towards the cost leadership strategy to accomplish their business objectives. The results of moderating analysis showed that cost leadership strategy positively moderate the relationship between capital structure and firm performance. It implies that debt financing is financially viable for the cost leadership firms. In addition, the results specified that when the firms try to maintain high debt ratio while pursuing a product differentiation or hybrid strategy, incur a significant performance penalty. Moreover, the results showed that debt financing is also harmful for the performance of “stuck in the middle” firms but the results were statistically insignificant in most cases. Furthermore, the results also revealed that product market competition can be used as a substitute for debt to limit the discretionary resources of the managers. Consequently, debt financing cannot create real financial benefits in the presence of high product market competition. Finally, based on the findings of the research, the present study also suggested some policy implications for the regulators, policy makers and firm’s managers.