The Relationship between Cash Conversion Cycle and Profitability
Transcription
The Relationship between Cash Conversion Cycle and Profitability
Journal of Renewable Natural Resources Bhutan ISSN: 1608-4330 The Relationship between Cash Conversion Cycle and Profitability of Companies listed in Tehran Stock Exchange (with Emphasis on the Type of Industry) Mahmoud Aghajani1, Dr.Amir Mahmoudian*1 , Dr.Ali Zabihi1 1 Department of Management, Sari Branch, Islamic Azad University, Sari, Iran ABSTRACT Working capital management is one of the main tasks of the financial manager of the company and has an important role in achieving the objectives, policies and achievements of the company and increasing shareholders' wealth. Cash conversion cycle is a measure of working capital management and controlling this cycle can affect a company's profitability. The relationship between the cash conversion cycle and profitability of companies listed in Tehran Stock Exchange (with emphasis on the type of industry) was investigated in this study. The criterion of earnings per share was used to measure the profitability. The effects of three variables such as firm size, debt ratio and sales growth that were expected to affect the relationship between the dependent and independent variables were controlled. The study population is companies listed in Tehran Stock Exchange; three industries of automotive with 16 companies, cement industry with 17 companies and the pharmaceutical industry with 20 companies were selected from among the entire industries as companies and industries under investigation that were selected using systematic elimination method. Time period to test the hypothesis include a period of eleven years based on financial statements from 2002 to 2012. The study has one hypothesis in which the relationship between the cash conversion cycle and profitability has been tested in three industries separately. Multivariate linear regression analysis in the combination (firm-year) form with the help of Spss software has been used to test the hypothesis. Overall, the results indicated a significant inverse relationship between the cash conversion cycle and profitability in the automotive and cement industries, but a significant relationship was not observed between cash conversion cycle and profitability in the pharmaceutical industry. Keywords: cash conversion cycle, profitability, return on assets, return on equity, earnings per share Introduction One of the most important goals of commercial units is maximizing brand equity and increasing company's stock value and shareholders and management of companies prefer policies that will increase the company's stock market value. Stock value depends on company's profits. From the perspective of investors, beneficiaries, creditors and customers also the profitability of the company is considered as one of the factors affecting decision making (Teruel and Solano, 2006). Profit is considered as one of the important information in economic decisions. Studies and researches conducted on profit are one of the most voluminous and most research efforts in the history of accounting. Profit, as dividend payment guidelines, management effectiveness assessment tool and decision predicting and evaluating tool, has often been used by investors, managers and financial analysts (Saghafy, 1994). Accordingly, many researchers have tried to identify the factors affecting the profitability of the company. Considering the place and importance of capital in the organizational process, its management is of utmost importance. Meanwhile, the working capital in general allocates a large part of the organization's capital to itself in all organizations, and its management based on the mechanism of supply chain management is also of great importance. Working capital management is the optimal combination of working capital items in a manner that will maximize shareholder's wealth. Managers of business units must choose appropriate strategies for the management of working capital of their own unit in different situations according to external and internal factors of the unit and according to the risk and return. However, active working capital management is a basic requirement of organization's ability to adapt in a challenging economy and aims to establish a delicate balance between maintaining liquidity to support the daily operations and maximizing short-term investment opportunities (Hawtis, 2003). In this challenging economic environment that international organizations seek new ways to grow and to improve financial performance and to reduce risk, working capital is considered as an important source of profitability. Bhu.J.RNR. Vol 3.1, 185-195: 2015 Mahmoud Aghajani et al 2. Statement of the problem In the current challenging economic environment with increasing environmental pressures and limited external sources, current assets and liabilities that is working capital of economic firms is of great importance and optimal management of working capital of firms can be considered as a competitive advantage for them. Working capital is the total of amounts that is invested in current assets and working capital management is to determine the size and composition of the sources and uses of working capital so as to increase shareholders' wealth (Yosefi Talarami, 2012). Working capital management is one of the most important areas of financial management and organizations' management, because it directly affects the liquidity and profitability of the company. There is the probability of bankruptcy for firms that are subject to improper management of working capital even with positive profitability. Working capital management is concerned with current assets and liabilities. A significant portion of the company's total assets is current assets. Excessive levels of current assets can lead to achieve investment returns lower than normal. However, firms that have low current assets will have shortages and problems in the ordinary course of operations (Rahman and Nasr, 2007). Any change in the environmental factors of the organization affects working capital immediately. By medium programming, the possibility of creating balance against changes in environmental factors should be predicted and balancing the accounts associated with it is very sensitive. Deciding on the amount of needed inventory, granting business credit to buy or receiving trade credit from suppliers of raw materials are among the issues that could affect the cash conversion cycle and ultimately affect the company's profitability (Delft and Mark, 2005). A common criterion for assessing the working capital management of cash conversion cycle is the time interval between the expenditure for the purchase of raw materials and receiving the money of goods sold. The longer the interval, the greater investment in working capital is done. Long cash cycle may increase profitability, because it leads to the increase in sales. However, if the costs of investing more in the working capital exceed the benefits from keeping more inventories or granting more trade credit, profitability of the business unit may reduce by increasing the cash cycle (Panighrahi, 2013). The traditional relationship between the cash conversion cycle and corporate profitability is such that reducing the cash conversion cycle increases the profitability of the company. On the other hand, the decrease in the cash conversion cycle can harm the production operations and product quality of the company and reduce profitability. Identification of the optimal level of inventory, accounts receivable and payables (the constituent elements of cash conversion cycle) which minimizes maintenance costs and opportunity costs and recalculating the cash conversion cycle under the optimum conditions can provide complete and accurate insights into the efficiency of the management of working capital, which ultimately reduces the cash conversion cycle and increase profitability. Therefore, in this study it is investigated that whether cash conversion cycle fluctuations can affect the company's profitability? 3. Research background Sonen and Shine (1995) investigated the relationship between a measure of the cash conversion cycle and profitability of the company for a large sample of US firms for the period of 1975-1994. They found a significant negative relationship between them, which suggests that managers can create value for shareholders by reducing the cash conversion cycle to a reasonable minimum. Mark Delft (2003) investigated the relationship between working capital management and profitability of the company for a sample of 1009 Belgian companies during the period of 1992-1996 and used the number of days of receiving receipts, inventories and payable accounts as commercial credit criteria and good inventory procedures. The cash conversion cycle was also used as a comprehensive measure for working capital management. The results showed that managers can increase the profitability of the business units through reducing processes of incoming deferred accounts and inventories and similarly, reducing the cash conversion cycle will increase the company's profitability. Teruel and Solano (2007) investigated 8872 Spanish small- and medium-sized enterprises during 1996 to 2002 and tested the relationship between working capital management and profitability of small- and medium-sized enterprises. Research results showed that management can create value for the company by reducing the number of days in working accounts receivable and inventory of materials and goods. Shortening the cash conversion cycle also leads to improved profitability. 186 Bhu.J.RNR. Vol 3.1, 185-195: 2015 Mahmoud Aghajani et al Panighrahi (2013) studied the relationship between the cash conversion cycle and Hindi firms' profitability. His study was had a 10-year period from 2001 to 2010. Corporate profitability has been measured using two criteria of return on equity and return on assets. His study shows that the cash conversion cycle has a negative significant relationship with return on assets and return on equity. In other words, increasing the cash conversion cycle reduces the return on assets and return on equity. Yaghob Nezhad et al. (2010) examined the relationship between working capital management and profitability of listed firms in Tehran Stock Exchange. For this purpose, 86 companies were selected during the period of 2002 - 2007. The results showed an inverse relationship between profitability and working capital management variables. The results showed that if the collection of receivables period, the debt-cycle inventory and cash conversion cycle increase, profitability of companies will reduce and managers can reduce the collection of receivables period, the debt-cycle inventory and cash conversion cycle to a minimum level and thus create a positive value for shareholders. Hasani Tabatabai (2011) examined the effects of working capital management on the profitability of small and medium companies listed in Tehran Stock Exchange. The information of 181 small and medium companies listed in Tehran Stock Exchange during the period 2005-2009 has been used. Research findings indicate that there is no significant correlation between the collection of receivables period, debt paying period, inventory turnover period, and cash conversion period of small companies. There is no significant correlation between the collection of receivables period, debt paying period, inventory turnover period, and cash conversion period of medium-sized companies. The findings also showed that with the introduction of control variables of sales growth and firm size in small and medium enterprises, correlation coefficients between all variables and profitable were increased. In most cases, there was no significant relationship between profitability and leverage ratios. Vaez et al. (2013) conducted a study regarding the factors affecting working capital management in companies listed in Tehran Stock Exchange. In this study, the affecting factors were profitability, leverage, capital expenditure and gross domestic product. The results showed that there is a negative significant relationship between profitability, leverage and capital expenditures with cash conversion cycle and there is a positive significant relationship between gross domestic product and the cash conversion cycle. 4. Research objectives, hypotheses and model The overall objective of this research seeks to explain the relationship between the cash conversion cycle and profitability of firms listed in Tehran Stock Exchange by industry and the main objective of the research that is consistent with research title can be expressed as follows: 1. Explaining the relationship between the cash conversion cycle and earnings per share. Research hypotheses 1. There is a relationship between the cash conversion cycle and earnings per share. Conceptual model of research variables and regression model for hypotheses testing 187 Bhu.J.RNR. Vol 3.1, 185-195: 2015 Mahmoud Aghajani et al The conceptual model of research variables is as follows: Earnings per share Profita bility Cash conversion cycle Firm size Sales growth Debt ratio Research hypothesis is tested using the following regression model: EPS i ,t o 1 CCC i ,t 2 Size i ,t 3 Debt i ,t 4 Growt i ,t i ,t In which: EPS i ,t : Earnings per share for i company in year t CCC i ,t : Cash conversion cycle for i company in year t Size i ,t : Size of the for i company in year t Debt i ,t : Debt ratio of for i company in year t Growt i ,t : Sales growth of for i company in year t i ,t : Residuals of the regression model Independent variable Cash Conversion Cycle (CCC) (independent variable): CCC = debt paying period – (collection of receivables period + inventories turnover period) Inventory turnover period: × Inventory turnover period = Collection of receivables period: Collection of receivables period = Debt paying period: × Debt paying period = × Dependent variable Earnings per share (EPS) (dependent variable): 188 Bhu.J.RNR. Vol 3.1, 185-195: 2015 Mahmoud Aghajani et al EPS = Control variables Firm size (Size) (control variable): Size ј,t = Ln (Sale ј,t) Debt ratio (Debt) (control variable): Debt i ,t TLi ,t /TAi ,t In which: TL : Total liabilities TA : total assets Sales growth (Growth) (control variable): S i ,t S i ,t 1 S i ,t 1 Growth i,t = Growth i,t = sales growth of i company in year t S i,t = Net sales of i company in year t S i,t-1 = Net sales of i company in year t-1 5. Research methodology This study is applied in terms of its objective and is causal post hoc in terms of its nature and method. In this study, population includes firms listed in Tehran Stock Exchange from 2002 until the end of 2012. With regard to the duration of the study, the samples shall be selected in a way that they have an active market during this time in order to be able to test the hypothesis. For this purpose, the following scheme is used to select samples: 1) Companies should be among automotive, cement and pharmaceutical industries. 2) Company should be listed in Tehran Stock Exchange from the beginning of 2002 to 2012. 3) Fiscal year of the company should end in the final day of the year and company should have not changed its fiscal year during the years under study and also companies should be among active companies in Stock Exchange or at least active in days under investigation. 4) Companies should not be among banks and financial institutions (investment companies, financial intermediation, holding companies, banks and leasing). 5) The information needed to calculate the variables should be available in the years studied. To determine the sample size, the systematic elimination method has been used; i.e. all the companies listed in Tehran Stock Exchange were first determined and then the above limitations were applied and the remaining companies were used as sample. Thus, according to the mentioned limitations, 16 companies from automotive industry, 17 companies from cement industry and 20 companies from pharmaceutical industry were selected as research sample. In the theoretical foundations' part, method of collecting data is library method and in the practical part also financial data is used from Tehran Stock Exchange. For data analysis and hypothesis testing, multivariate linear regression analysis was used; i.e. first information needed for testing was calculated and then correlation between variables was investigated using correlation coefficient and then the multivariate linear regression tests was done to investigate the relationship between cash conversion cycle and companies' profitability. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov (KS) test was used for normality of data distribution, Durbin-Watson test for independence of errors and co-linearity test was used for the lack of correlations between the independent variables. To test the hypotheses and the analysis of data, Excel software and statistical software of SPSS16 were used. 6. Research findings 6.1. Descriptive statistics Descriptive statistics of variables according to the industry are presented in Table (1): 189 Bhu.J.RNR. Vol 3.1, 185-195: 2015 Mahmoud Aghajani et al Industry CCC EPS Size Debt Growth Automotive Table 1: Descriptive statistics of variables by industry 176 141.6 126.8 1.6a 83.3 1.6 176 611.3 461.2 -692.8a 613.7 -692.8 176 13.58 12.91 12.30 2.05 10.41 176 0.70 0.71 0.73 0.15 0.34 176 0.25 0.16 0.24 0.65 -0.56 352.9 2872.5 18.49 1.07 7.68 CCC EPS Size Debt Growth 187 183.7 176.9 207.5 89.0 16.7 187 1422.5 993.6 988.2 1244.3 -81.1 187 12.89 12.87 12.32a 0.69 11.09 187 0.60 0.62 0.71 0.15 0.30 187 0.24 0.17 0.14 0.51 -0.69 652.0 5921.1 14.82 0.91 5.21 CCC EPS Size Debt Growth 220 256.0 255.0 234.9a 78.9 53.7 220 1211.8 1069.1 71.9a 710.0 71.9 220 12.57 12.59 11.70 0.86 10.42 220 0.64 0.65 .65a 0.13 0.33 220 0.26 0.20 0.19 0.47 -0.76 585.2 2987.1 14.46 0.91 4.69 cement Industry Industry pharmaceutical Statistical index Numbers Observations Mean Median Mode SD Minimum Maximum Statistical index Numbers Observations Mean Median Mode SD Minimum Maximum Statistical index Numbers Observations Mean Median Mode SD Minimum Maximum As can be seen the mean of cash conversion cycle (CCC) is 141.6 for automotive industry, which is less than the other two industries indicating that this industry can cover its required cash from its sales more quickly. Earnings per share's (EPS) figure is 1422.5, which is more than the other two industries in the cement industry. Firm size (Size) mean is 13.58 is more than the other two industries in automotive industry as expected; debt ratio (Debt) with figure 0.70 is also higher than the rest of the industries in this industry. Sales growth (Growth) with figure 0.26 is in the first place in pharmaceutical industry and then with figure 0.25 is in the second place in automotive industry and ultimately in cement industry with figure 0.24 is in third place. 6.2. Testing normality of data distribution Kolmogorov-Smirnov (K-S) test has been used to test normality of data. Automotive Table 2: K-S test results by industry industry Number Mean SD Absolute value The highest Positive deviation Negative K-S (Z) Sig. Level 190 EPS 176 611 613 0.14 0.14 -0.10 1.34 0.056 Bhu.J.RNR. Vol 3.1, 185-195: 2015 Mahmoud Aghajani et al Industry Cement Number Mean SD Absolute value The highest Positive deviation Negative K-S (Z) Sig. Level Industry pharmaceutical Number Mean SD Absolute value The highest Positive deviation Negative K-S (Z) Sig. Level EPS 187 1422 1244 0.18 0.18 -0.13 1.17 0.132 EPS 220 1211.80 6710.00 0.09 0.09 -0.05 0.80 0.553 K-S test results show that in automotive industry sig level of EPS variable (0.056) is greater than 5%, thus the null hypothesis is confirmed; in other words this variable is normally distributed in the automotive industry. In cement industry sig level of EPS variable (0.056) is greater than 5%, thus the null hypothesis is confirmed; in other words this variable is normally distributed in the cement industry. In pharmaceutical industry sig level of EPS variable (0.553) is greater than 5%, thus the null hypothesis is confirmed; in other words, this variable is normally distributed in the pharmaceutical industry. 6.3. Hypothesis testing Since this hypothesis is investigated in three automotive, cement and pharmaceutical industries, thus, this hypothesis is tested for three industries separately. Statistical hypothesis in the form of null hypothesis (H0) and the opposite hypothesis (H1) are as follows: H0: There is no relationship between cash conversion cycle and earnings per share. H1: There is a relationship between cash conversion cycle and earnings per share. For hypothesis testing, cash conversion cycle as independent variable and EPS as the dependent variable and firm size, financial leverage and liquidity ratio as control variables are entered into the multivariate linear regression equation according to the following model. EPS i ,t o 1 CCC i ,t 2 Size i ,t 3 Debt i ,t 4 Growt i ,t i ,t 6.3.1. Hypothesis testing in automotive industry Independent variables co-linearity test in automotive industry Independent variables co-linearity test is given in table (3): Model 1 Table 3: co-linearity test of the first hypothesis in automotive industry Dimension Eigenvalue Condition index Constant (Bo ) 3.876 1.000 CCC .867 2.115 Size .421 4.184 Debt .219 11.464 Growth .106 14.953 191 Bhu.J.RNR. Vol 3.1, 185-195: 2015 Mahmoud Aghajani et al As can be seen, eigenvalues are between zero and one indicating the possibility of internal correlation of predictions, but since they are not so close to zero, it indicates lack of severe problem in using regression. Durbin-Watson Test Investigating errors' independence using Durbin-Watson test and hypothesis testing Table 4: Durbin-Watson test results and third hypothesis testing in automotive industry Statistical model: multivariate linear regression model Industry, Companies and year: Automotive, 16 companies and 11 year Variable entering method: Enter Confidence level: 95% Dependent variable: EPS Significance of the whole model of Anova R square Durbin-Watson Adjusted R square F statistics Sig. .192 0.210 1.559 11.374 .000 Significance of each variable T statistics Sig 3.415 .001 Independent variables Constant value 1456.6 CCC -1.68 -2.766 .006 Firm size 27.21 1.127 .261 Debt ratio -468.4 -1.617 .108 Sales growth 355.6 5.397 .000 Beta According to this table, Durbin-Watson value is 1.559 and regression can be used. Adjusted coefficient of determination is 0.192 indicating the degree of relationship between independent and dependent variables. Significance of the whole model indicates variance analysis between cash conversion cycle and control variables with EPS. According to the results of multivariate linear regression, H1 is confirmed in automotive industry with 95% confidence and 5% error probability. 6.3.2. Hypothesis testing in cement industry First hypothesis co-linearity test in cement industry Independent variables co-linearity test is given in table (5): Model 1 Table 5: co-linearity test of the first hypothesis in cement industry Dimension Eigenvalue Condition index Constant (Bo) 4.016 1.000 CCC .803 2.236 Size .436 5.441 Debt .245 9.495 Growth .145 12.880 As can be seen, eigenvalues are between zero and one indicating the possibility of internal correlation of predictions, but since they are not so close to zero, it indicates lack of severe problem in using regression. 192 Bhu.J.RNR. Vol 3.1, 185-195: 2015 Mahmoud Aghajani et al Durbin-Watson Test Multivariate linear regression test results are given in table (6). Table 6: Durbin-Watson test results and third hypothesis testing in cement industry Statistical model: multivariate linear regression model Industry, Companies and year: cement, 17 companies and 11 year Variable entering method: Enter Confidence level: 95% Dependent variable: EPS Significance of the whole model of Anova R square Durbin-Watson Adjusted R square F statistics Sig. 0.69 .089 2.037 4.457 .002 Significance of each variable T statistics Sig 4.308 .000 Independent variables Constant value 9578.2 CCC -2.864 -2.522 .013 Firm size 594.8 3.874 .000 Debt ratio -76.86 -.124 .901 Sales growth 35.49 .197 .844 Beta According to this table, Durbin-Watson value is 2.037, which shows that errors are independent of each other and there is no auto-correlation among errors and the correlation hypothesis between errors is rejected and regression can be used. Significance of the whole model indicates variance analysis between cash conversion cycle and control variables with EPS. Since sig. of Anova (.002) with F-statistics (4.457) is less that the acceptable error level (5%), the linearity hypothesis between the two variables is confirmed. According to the results of multivariate linear regression, H1 is confirmed in cement industry with 95% confidence and 5% error probability. 6.3.3. Third hypothesis testing in pharmaceutical industry First hypothesis co-linearity test in pharmaceutical industry Independent variables co-linearity test is given in table (7): Model 1 Dimension Constant (Bo) CCC Size Debt Growth Eigenvalue 4.174 .729 .771 .224 .102 Condition index 1.000 2.393 7.661 11.112 14.663 As can be seen, eigenvalues are between zero and one indicating the possibility of internal correlation of predictions, but since they are not so close to zero, it indicates lack of severe problem in using regression. 193 Bhu.J.RNR. Vol 3.1, 185-195: 2015 Mahmoud Aghajani et al Durbin-Watson Test Multivariate linear regression test results are given in table (8). Table 8: Durbin-Watson test results and third hypothesis testing in pharmaceutical industry Statistical model: multivariate linear regression model Industry, Companies and year: pharmaceutical, 20 companies and 11 year Variable entering method: Enter Confidence level: 95% Dependent variable: EPS Significance of the whole model of Anova R square Durbin-Watson Adjusted R square F statistics Sig. .113 0.130 1.872 7.999 .000 Significance of each variable T statistics Sig -2.015 .045 Independent variables Constant value 1456.6 CCC -1.68 -.412 .680 Firm size 27.21 4.846 .000 Debt ratio -468.4 -1.974 .050 Sales growth 355.6 1.152 .251 Beta According to this table, Durbin-Watson value is 1.872, which shows that errors are independent of each other and there is no auto-correlation among errors and the correlation hypothesis between errors is rejected and regression can be used. Significance of the whole model indicates variance analysis between cash conversion cycle and control variables with EPS. According to the results of multivariate linear regression, H1 is confirmed in pharmaceutical industry with 95% confidence and 5% error probability. Summary of hypothesis testing For overall analysis, the results of hypothesis testing are summarized in Table (17-4). Hypothesis Table (17-4): summarizing the results of all hypotheses Hypothesis Industry Result There is a relationship between cash conversion cycle and EPS. Automotive Confirmed Cement Confirmed Pharmaceutical Rejected Kind of the relationship Significant and inverse Significant and inverse Non-significant 7. Conclusion The results show that decrease in the cash conversion cycle increases earnings per share in the automotive and cement industries; in other words, by reducing the cash conversion cycle, automotive and cement industries' profitability can be increased. Thus, according to the elements of the cash conversion cycle, it can be concluded that reducing period of receiving accounts receivable, reducing 194 Bhu.J.RNR. Vol 3.1, 185-195: 2015 Mahmoud Aghajani et al conversion cycle and selling good inventory and increasing the time of debt paying leads to increase in companies' profitability in automotive and cement industries. Research results show that cash conversion cycle in pharmaceutical industry has no effect on earnings per share. It should be noted that Iran's pharmaceutical industry is strategically dependent on foreign raw material, knowledge and technology and is affected by internal and external economic and political conditions; therefore, it has specific problems and situation. In recent years, cash conversion cycle in this industry has been so long and the liquidity problem is so fundamental. This industry's performance is also affected much by international sanctions. According to the obtained results, it can be said that increasing cash conversion cycle is associated with decrease in profitability of automotive and cement industries. Industry type affects companies' cash conversion cycle and causes results in various industries be different from the expressed theory and given the specific situation of industry, cash conversion cycle may have no effect on profitability in some industries. References 1. Akbari, F. (2006), "financial statements analysis", specialized research center for accounting and auditing, auditing organization. 2. Pishkari, M. (1996), "investigating working capital management in selected Iranian companies", MA thesis, Management faculty, Shahid Beheshti University. 3. Taghizadeh, H. and Tari, Gh. (2007), "Graphic pattern of research method in humanities", Tehran, Hafiz. 4. Hafeznia, M.R. (2005), "an introduction to research method in humanities", SAMT publications. 5. Hasani Tabatabaei, Z. (2011), "study of the working capital management effects on profitability of medium and small companies listed in Stock Exchange", MA thesis, Islamic Azad University, Arak Branch, management faculty, department of accounting 6. Hoseini, S. A. and Karami, Gh. And Shafipoor, S. M. (2011), "investigating the relationship between companies' performance and stock market liquidity", quarterly of Stock Exchange, No. 11, Third year, pp. 25-42. 7. Khaki, Gh. (2005), "research method with an approach toward thesis writing", Tehran, Baztab publications, Second edition, pp. 195-196. 8. Rahnemay Rod Poshti, F. and Kiae, A. (2001), "investigating and explaining capital management strategies in companies listed in Tehran Stock Exchange", accounting knowledge and research, fourth year, No. 13, p. 69. 9. Shanazarian, S. (2010), "investigating the relationship between institutional ownership and major ownership as dimensions of corporate governance with corporate performance in companies listed in Tehran Stock Exchange", MA thesis, accounting and management faculty, Shahid Beheshti University. 10. Shabahang, R. (2006), "financial management", auditing organization's publications, second volume, chapter 16, pp. 59-67. 11. Talebi, M. (1998), "evaluating current situation of of working capital management in Iranian companies", PhD dissertation, faculty of humanities, Tehran University. 12. Zarif Fard, A. (1999), "Identifying and analyzing factors related to earnings quality odeconomic firms in Iran", PhD dissertation, Allameh Tabatabae University 13. Aalivar, A. (2001), "fundamental financial statements", specialized research center for accounting and auditing, eight editions. 14. Enayati, S. (2004), "investigating and explaining working capital management in companies listed in Tehran Stock Exchange", MA thesis, Shahid Beheshti University 15. Kiae, A. (2008), "investigating and explaining working capital management strategies in companies listed in Tehran Stock Exchange", MA thesis, Islamic Azad university of science and research branch. 16. Modares, A. and Abdolahzade, F. (2004), "financial management", first volume, Bazargani publications. 17. Theoretical concepts of accounting and financial reporting in Iran (Draft), (1996), the Board of Accounting Standards, specialized research center for accounting and auditing, Auditing Office, Publication 112, Tehran 195 Bhu.J.RNR. Vol 3.1, 185-195: 2015 Mahmoud Aghajani et al 18. Modares, A. and Abdolahzade, F. (2004), "financial management", second volume, Bazargani publications. 19. Momeni, M. and Faal Ghayomi, A. (2007), Statistical analysis using spss, Tehran, Ketabe no. 20. Mirtoti, A. (2009), "analysis of production companies' working capital management", MA thesis, management and accounting faculty, Allameh Tabatabae University. 21. Vaez, S. A. and Ghalambar, M. H. and Shakeri, F. (2013), "factors affecting working capital management in companies listed in Tehran Stock Exchange", scientific-research quarterly of financial accounting, fifth year, No. 19, Autumn of 2013, pp. 46-68. 22. Yosefi Talarami, A. (2012), "effect of working capital management policies on financial performance of companies listed in Tehran Stock Exchange", MA thesis, Islamic Azad University, Arak Branch, management faculty, department of accounting. 23. Yaghob Nezhad, A. and Vakilifard, H. R. and Babae A. R. (2010), "the relationship between working capital management and profitability in companies listed in Tehran Stock Exchange", The Journal of Portfolio Management and Financial Engineering, No. 2, p. 117. 24. Anand,M.&A.,Gupta,(2002)” Working capital performance of corporate India”, Working Paper, SSRN Electronic Library. 25. Deloof. M. (2003),” Dose Working Capital Management Affect Profitability of Belgian Firms?”, Journal of Business ,Finance and Accounting30, 576-587. 26. Deloof. M. (2005),” Dose Working Capital Management Affect Profitability of Belgian Firms?”, Journal of Business ,Finance and Accounting30, 576-587. 27. Kesseven Padachi (2006) “Trends in Working Cpital management and its impact on Firms performance: An Analysis of mauririan Small Manufacturing Firms” international Review of business research Vo.2 NO.2.,Pp.45-58 28. Padachi K., 2006,” Trends in Working Capital Management and its Impact on Firms’ Performance: An Analysis of Mauritian Small Manufacturing Firms”, International Review of Business Research Papers, Vol. 2(3). 29. Panigrahi. A, (2013), “CASH CONVERSION CYCLE AND FIRMS’ PROFITABILITY – A STUDY OF CEMENT MANUFACTURING COMPANIES OF INDIA” International Journal of Current Research, Vol. 5, Issue, 06, pp.1484-1488. 30. Raheman and Nasr, (2007),”Working Capital Management And Profitability-Case Of Pakistan Firms” International Review of Business Research Papers ,Vol.3, Pp.279 – 300 31. Raymond ،P،Neveu,"fundamental of managerial finance",south –western ،publishing co ،1986،p،139 32. Smith, J.&B.,Wilner,(2000),”The exploitation of relationships in financial distress”,The Journal of finance.No 55.pp153. 33. Solano, M. &J,G Teruel, (2006),“Effects of Working Capital Management on SME Profitability”, Working Paper, SSRN Electronic Library 196