How cash flow volatility affects debt financing and accounts payable

This paper investigates how volatility of cash flow from operations affects debt financing and accounts payable using a sample of Italian listed firms. Firms with different levels of cash flow were also examined. We find that firms that have more cash flow volatility have lower long-term debt to total debt, whatever the average level of their cash flow. We also show that accounts payable is positively associated with cash flow volatility, in particular for firms with a higher level of cash flow. Lastly, research findings reveal that firm leverage as measured by the total debt to assets ratio is negatively associated with cash flow volatility when firms have a lower level of cash flow, while the same relationship was not found for firms with a higher cash flow level

Interest Rate Variability and Manufacturing Industry Cash Flow: An Empirical Analysis

To examine the impact of floating rate loans and interest rate volatility on aggregate cash flow, quarterly data covering the period 1974 to 1990 for 14 two-digit Standard Industrial Classification manufacturing industries were analyzed. The results indicate that changes in the short-term interest rate and-or interest rate volatility have a significantly negative impact on the cash flow of a total of 11 of the 14 firms considered. Although the inverse relationship between corporate cash flow and interest rate is worth mentioning, the heterogeneity of this relationship across industries, however, is more interesting. The magnitude of the decline in cash flow tends to vary between industries, and it likely accounts for a different share of total cash flow. Firms with floating rate debt in the more sensitive industries should be especially cautious because the greater the amount of debt that is financed with floating rates, the more susceptible the firm will be to having unexpected decreases in cash flow

Free Cash-Flow, Issuance Costs and Stock Price Volatility

We study the issuance and payout policies that maximize the value of a firm facing both agency costs of free cash-flow and external financing costs. We find that the firm optimally issues equity. Equity distributes no dividends until a target cash level is reached, while new equity is issued when the firm runs out of cash. We characterize the process modelling the number of outstanding shares and the dynamics of the stock prices. In line with the leverage effect identified by Black (1976), we show that both the volatility of stock returns and the dollar volatility of stock prices increase after a negative shock on stock prices.

Do investors value cash flow stability of listed infrastructure funds?

I analyze cash flow characteristics of listed infrastructure investment companies and funds and compare this unique infrastructure sample with a non-infrastructure reference group. I confirm that infrastructure investment provide more stable cash flows than non-infrastructure investments. However, I do not find that investors positively value this cash flow stability. Instead, more volatile cash flows are valued with a premium. On the other hand, earnings management proxied by accrual volatility is valued with a discount. My paper offers evidence that higher infrastructure investments in general are valued with a positive 'infrastructure premium' that is not driven by more stable cash flows. I find additional indications that transparent financial and governance structures as well as regulatory risk play a significant role for the valuation of infrastructure investment companies and funds. --infrastructure funds,cash flow volatility

Brand performance volatility from marketing spending

© Copyright 2016, INFORMS. Although volatile marketing spending, as opposed to even-level spending, may improve a brand's financial performance, it can also increase the volatility of performance, which is not a desirable outcome. This article analyzes how revenue and cash-flow volatility are influenced by own and competitive marketing spending volatility, by the level of marketing spending, by the responsiveness to own marketing spending, and by competitive response. From market response theory, we derive propositions about the influence of these variables on revenue and cash-flow volatility. In addition, we extend the Dorfman-Steiner theorem to derive the optimal level and volatility of expenditures if volatility effects are taken into account. Based on a large sample of 99 pharmaceutical brands in four clinical categories and four European countries, we test for the empirical relevance of the propositions and assess the magnitude of the different sources of marketing-induced performance volatility. We find broad support for the predicted volatility effects. Volatility elasticities are significant and may be as large as 1.10 for cash-flow variance with respect to marketing responsiveness. The findings imply that common volatility-increasing marketing practices such as price promotions or volatile advertising plans may be effective at the top line, but they could turn out to be ineffective after all costs are taken into account. Optimal marketing volatility needs to trade off sales effectiveness and extra costs resulting from marketing volatility

The effect of smooth performance in firm value – European evidence

The purpose of this study is to analyze the valuation effect of cash flow and earnings volatility. In addition, I aim to find out how investors value earnings smoothing done using discretionary accruals. My study also aims to provide clarifying evidence to the discrepancy between the predicted valuation effect of financial performance volatility by CAPM and the call option nature of equity. I also analyze the validity of corporate diversification as a source of smoother financial performance and how this smoother financial performance affects firm value. Data set consists of European companies with non-missing observations for share price as well as quarterly cash flow and earnings between 2000 and 2010. Total number of companies in my sample is 778 resulting in total 2,211 firm year observations. The findings of my study show that volatile financial performance results in a discount in company value. Both cash flow and earnings volatility seem to have a negative effect on firm value, with the effect being stronger and more significant for earnings volatility. My results thus support focus of attention on earnings figures, which is widely adapted by investors and media. In addition my results suggest that investors prefer active earnings smoothing done by the management, especially with accruals. My results also clarify the discrepancy between CAPM and the call option nature of equity. Based on my findings, there is a strong negative relation between leverage and firm value, even after controlling for cash flow volatility. This suggests that benefits from volatility to the call option nature of equity are outweighed by the costs of potential financial distress. The findings of my study also suggest that corporate diversification doesn’t work as an effective hedge for providing smoother cash flow. Even though companies would benefit from smoother financial performance due to diversification, the widely reported diversification discount exceeds the benefits and the total value effect is negative

A review of the rationales for corporate risk management: fashion or the need?

This paper presents the extensive literature survey based both on theoretical rationales for hedging as well as the empirical evidence that support the implications of the theory regarding the arguments for the corporate risk management relevance and its influence on the company’s value. The survey of literature presented in this paper has revealed that there are two chief classes of rationales for corporate decision to hedge - maximisation of shareholder value or maximisation of managers’ private utility. If corporate hedging decisions are capable of increasing firm values, they can do so by reducing the volatility of cash flows. The literature survey presented in this paper has revealed that, by hedging financial risks firms can decrease cash flow volatility, what leads to a lower variance of firm value. This means that not only a firm value is moving less, but that the probability of occurring low values is smaller than without hedging. Reduced volatility of cash flows results in decreased costs of financial distress and expected taxes, thereby enhancing the present value of expected future cash flows. Additionally, it reduces the costs associated with information “asymmetries” by signalling management's view of the company's prospects to investors, or it reduces agency problems. In addition, reducing cash flow volatility can improve the probability of having sufficient internal funds for planned investments eliminating the need either to cut profitable projects or bear the transaction costs of obtaining external funding. However, it needs to be emphasised that there is no consensus as to what hedging rationale is the most important in explaining risk management as a corporate policy. It can be concluded that, the total benefit of hedging is the combination of all these motives and, if the costs of using corporate risk management instruments are less than the benefits provided via the avenues mentioned in this paper, or any other benefit perceived by the market, then risk management is a shareholder-value enhancing activity.corporate risks, rationales of risk management

Factors Affecting Corporate Cash Holding of FinanSector Companies (Non Bank) Listed in Indonesian Stock Exchange Period 2010 - 2015

The main purpose of this research is to examine the factors that affecting corporate cash holding of financial sector companies listed in Indonesian Stock Exchange period 2010 – 2015. Cash flow, leverage, cash flow volatility, profitability, growth opportunities, firm size, debt maturity, and dividend represent the independent variables in the research study. The proxy of corporate cash holding is cash and cash equivalent. This research used data from Bloomberg period 2010-2015 with purposive sampling method and panel data regression analysis has been conducted to determine the major factors affecting cash holding. The results imply that growth opportunity, firm size, cash flow, and profitability of the firms has a positive significant effect while leverage show a negative significant effect on corporate cash holdings

Credit Line Availability and Utilization in REITs

Analysis of REIT credit line availability and use under normal conditions and during the recent financial crisis are provided. Descriptive statistics indicate REIT credit lines represent an important component of capital structure, credit line availability and utilization have increased substantially over the sample period, and REITs maintain precautionary liquidity via credit lines rather than holding cash. Multivariate results indicate that credit line availability is directly associated with cash flow uncertainty, dividend distributions, acquisitions, and capital market access and is inversely linked to the market-to-book ratio. Credit line use is unrelated to cash flow volatility and dividends, but is correlated with operating cash flow, acquisitions, and capital market access. Unlike with non-REITs, when setting credit limits lenders focus on dividends and not just operating cash flow. Despite finding that line availability is influenced by dividend payments, REITs do not systematically use lines to pay dividends implying that dividends are paid from operating cash flows.

Internet valuations: The case of Terra-Lycos

In this paper, we review twelve valuations of Terra performed by Spanish and non-Spanish bank analysts and brokers. Of the twelve valuations, only one used cash flow discounting. Another valuation was based on multiples, but also used cash flow discounting to perform a reverse valuation. All others used several multiples. Only one valuation report recommended to sell. Terra started trading on the stock market in November 1999. The placement price was 13 euros per share (11.81 for retailers). In February 2000, its price stood at 139.75 euros. Between November 1999 and February 2000, Terra provided a return of 975% for its shareholders. However, by December 2000, the share price had plummeted to 11.6 euros, 8.3% of its February high. The average annual volatility of the Terra share was almost 100%. If you can't find a rational explanation for a share to continue rising, you can be sure that it will fall. To become a millionaire, you must sell your shares at the right time. A website is not necessarily a business. Selling below cost gets you lots of customers, but not much money.Valuations; cash flow discounting