Dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the Requirement for the MSc in Finance FINANCE DISSERTATION ON IMPACTS OF EARNINGS AND CASH FLOW VOLATILITY ON THE FIRM VALUE: EVIDENCE FROM TOP 4 ASEAN COUNTRIES DO VAN HIEP ID No: 22080948 Intake 6 Supervisor: Asso. Nguyen Thi Phuong Hoa September 2023 Author’s Declaration I, Do Van Hiep, confirm that the MS thesis entitled "Impacts of earnings and cash flow volatility on firm value: evidence from the top four ASEAN countries" is an original piece of work authored solely by myself. This thesis has not been previously submitted by me for the purpose of obtaining any degree from the University of the West of England or any other institution, either domestically or internationally. In the event that any inaccuracies are discovered in my statement, even subsequent to my graduation, the University retains the authority to withdraw my MSc Degree.
Signature of Student Signature of Supervisor Do Van Hiep Asso. Nguyen Thi Phuong Hoa August 18th, 2023 1 Executive Summary The utilization of data derived from three fundamental financial reports primarily captures the attention of individuals who are primarily concerned with the periodic performance outcomes of a specific enterprise. In addition, it is important to address the problem of index volatility, which tends to be neglected despite its significance. From a risk management standpoint in the field of finance, the variability of business outcomes observed over a given time frame serves as an indicator of the level of risk associated with investing in a particular company.
This study aims to analyze the variations in two key indicators, namely cash flow and corporate income, and investigate the relationship between the fluctuations in these indicators and corporate value. One notable aspect of this study is its specific emphasis on the Southeast Asian market as the primary area of research. The ASEAN region predominantly comprises developing economies; nevertheless, it stands as one of the world's largest economies with significant prospects for development. Empirical research findings will be utilized to verify theories related to the interplay between various factors that can influence corporate value, particularly the volatility in cash flow and corporate income.
These theories will be tested using research subjects which are the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and operating within a business environment that exhibits limited development. The OLS model will be employed to investigate the correlation between various factors that influence business value. The constructed model will incorporate six distinct independent variables, specifically financial indicators such as variations in cash flow and earnings. The dependent variable, denoted as an index, will be 2 utilized to measure the correlation between market value and book value, thereby serving as a representation of firm value.
The empirical findings of this study provide a comprehensive examination of the relationship between corporate value and fluctuations in cash flow and earnings, showing an inverse correlation. This finding aligns with the theoretical proposition that a significant proportion of market participants exhibit risk aversion, leading them to perceive high levels of risk associated with investing in businesses characterized by volatile major indices. This phenomenon leads to a decrease in the overall value of the business. However, it is worth noting that when the sample is divided and research is conducted on small businesses, the findings contradict the theoretical expectations.
This phenomenon can be attributed to the relative lack of investor attention towards small businesses in Southeast Asian countries, resulting in diminished stock value and trading frequency. This study offers recommendations for market investors based on the analysis of research findings and from the perspective of risk management theory. When evaluating and employing business valuation techniques, investors are required to take into account the temporal variations of financial indicators. Moreover, according to the viewpoint of business executives, it is imperative for the organization to implement financial management strategies that prioritize the maintenance of stable financial indicators as a means to augment the overall value of the company.
Of particular significance are two key indicators, namely cash flow and corporate income, which serve as reliable measures of the company's liquidity and operational capability throughout various business cycles. 3 Acknowledgements I want to express my sincere appreciation to the Master of Finance and Investment training program, which is jointly organized and taught by the University of the West of England and the Banking Academy, for providing me with the valuable opportunity to engage in research within my field of interest. Furthermore, I would like to extend my gratitude to the teachers who have dedicated themselves to the profession for a duration exceeding one year. The provision of knowledge on finance and investment has been important in equipping me with the necessary qualifications for pursuing this study.
During the course of completing my thesis, I received dedicated guidance and advice from Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Thi Phuong Hoa. I would like to send my profound appreciation to her. From the initial discussions regarding the subject matter of the thesis, she assisted my comprehension of the overall substance and the methodology for conducting an essay.
Furthermore, her professional comment serves as a critical foundation for me to effectively complete my thesis in the most optimal approach. I'd like to express my gratitude to my instructor. Furthermore, the completion of this thesis would not have been possible without the support of Ta Sang, one of my friends who is presently pursuing a Ph. in the field of econometrics at the University of Amsterdam.
The individual's enthusiastic support and expertise in utilizing econometric models to analyze the interconnections among variables greatly facilitated the successful completion of my thesis. I would like to express my profound admiration and sincere gratitude towards my special friend. 4 Furthermore, I would like to extend my appreciation to my classmates in the Master of Finance and Investment program in class 6A. The assistance and support of my companions, as well as their shared insights and suggesntions, serve as significant factors that motivate me to exert greater effort in the pursuit of conducting research and completing my thesis.
5 Table of contents Author’s Declaration .4 List of tables. Objectives of the study. Concepts of the firm value. The effect of earnings volatility on firm value.
The effect of cash flow volatility on firm value. The effect of size (Total Assets) on firm value. The effect of profitability on firm value. The effect of leverage on firm value.
The effect of Growth Opportunity on firm value. Data description and methodology. Sources of data. Data analysis and discussion.
Multicollinearity check of the independent variables for the period 2016- 2022. Result and discussion. Regression results for the small business group. Regression results for the large business group.
Suggestions from results of the regression .61 7 List of tables Table 4. 1: Descriptive Statistics for 119 companies. 2: Panel-correlation of variables for 119 companies. 3: Variance Inflation Factors of the Earning volatility, Cash flow volatility and firm value.
4: OLS regression results show the impact of Earning volatility and Cash flow volatility on Tobin Q of 119 companies. 5: The regression results of the impact model of Cash flow and Earnings volatility on the firm value of 119 companies. 6: Descriptive Statistics for the small business group. 7: Panel-correlation of variables for the small business group.
8: OLS regression results show the impact of Earning volatility and Cash flow volatility on Tobin Q of the small business group. 9: The regression results of the impact model of Cash flow and Earnings volatility on the firm value of the small bussiness group. 10: Descriptive Statistics for the large business group. 11: Panel-correlation of variables for the large business group.
12: OLS regression results show the impact of Earning volatility and Cash flow volatility on Tobin Q of the large business group. Research rationales The primary objective of business leaders is to optimize the value of the organization. In order to achieve this objective, it is imperative to efficiently manage all variables that have the potential to impact the valuation of the organization. In conventional business concepts, business managers and investors tend to prioritize key performance indicators such as revenue, profit, and corporate assets.
Nevertheless, in regard to modern business environments and the emergence of stock markets, it has become imperative for business proprietors to adopt a more comprehensive perspective encompassing various indicators that can be employed to evaluate the company's potential for growth. In addition to revenue and profit, investors must also consider other metrics in order to assess the potential for sustainable long-term returns and the level of risk associated with investing in businesses within the market. Numerous empirical investigations have demonstrated that various determinants exert an influence on the valuation of a business entity, encompassing revenue generation, cost structure, market competitiveness, and the changing business environment. There has been considerable scholarly interest in examining the relationship between cash flow, earnings, and enterprise value.
The process of monitoring a company's cash flow provides insight into the degree of liquidity in a leader's allocation of assets. Cash flow serves as a crucial indicator for creditors and stockholders, as well as a foundation for making strategic decisions regarding reinvestment for the purpose of achieving growth and expansion. Moreover, the 9 variability of cash flow over a specific timeframe also serves as an indicator of the resilience of the organization during periods of financial hardship. On the other hand, earnings represent a primary metric that individuals tend to assess as a preliminary step when expressing interest in a particular business.
The numerical values correspond to the financial outcomes, operational capabilities, managerial performance, and investor expectations within a business context. Nevertheless, if the company experiences a substantial increase in earnings in the preceding year but encounters a significant decline in the subsequent year, it could possibly indicate that the company's business operations are not viable and sustainable in the long run.While numerous studies have explored the correlation between these two factors, there remains a gap in the literature regarding the association between variations in cash flow and earnings. The topic is receiving minimal attention.This study aims to investigate the correlation between cash flow, income volatility, and enterprise value, based on the aforementioned justifications. This will serve as the foundation for formulating recommendations to investors and business executives.
This study will primarily examine the correlation between the fluctuation of cash flow and earnings within a specific timeframe and the overall valuation of a business, rather than solely presenting the annual outcomes of these financial metrics. The findings hold significance not only for business proprietors aiming to optimize company worth, but also serve as informative materials for investors to consider prior to making decisions. This is particularly relevant given the fluctuating nature of corporate ratios, which provide insights into a company's long- 10 term performance and are directly linked to the risk associated with allocating assets to its shares. This study presents empirical evidence indicating that earning volatility incurs significant costs and is negatively associated with firm value.
It appears that managers, analysts, and institutional investors of firms primarily prioritize the earnings of the respective companies, rather than placing significant emphasis on cash flow. The presence of earnings volatility serves as an indicator of the financial stability or instability of firms, alongside cash flow volatility. Numerous rationales exist for the significance of earnings volatility as a determinant of firm value. Business analysts and institutional investors typically exhibit a tendency to refrain from engaging with highly volatile firms, and consequently, they advise investors to adopt a similar approach of avoiding investments in such companies.
The likelihood of experiencing forecast error is positively correlated with the level of volatility in firms' earnings and cash flows. Research Questions This study has the following research questions: 1. To what extent does the level of earnings volatility impact the valuation of a firm? 2. Does cash flow volatility affect the firm value? 3.