MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING THE STATE BANK OF VIETNAM HO CHI MINH CITY UNIVERSITY OF BANKING GRADUATION THESIS THE IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON THE PROFITABILITY OF STEEL INDUSTRY ENTERPRISES LISTED ON THE VIETNAM STOCK MARKET MAJOR: FINANCE - BANKING CODE: 7340201 HOANG NGUYEN THANH HUONG HO CHI MINH CITY, 2024 MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING THE STATE BANK OF VIETNAM HO CHI MINH CITY UNIVERSITY OF BANKING GRADUATION THESIS THE IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON THE PROFITABILITY OF STEEL INDUSTRY ENTERPRISES LISTED ON THE VIETNAM STOCK MARKET MAJOR: FINANCE – BANKING CODE: 7340201 Full name: HOANG NGUYEN THANH HUONG Student code: 050608200376 Class: HQ8-GE07 ADVISOR DR. NGUYEN ANH TU HO CHI MINH CITY, 2024 i COMMENTS OF THE ADVISOR. Ho Chi Minh City, ……………………….2024 Advisor guides ii ABSTRACT The profitability of a business is always affected by many different factors from internal to external factors such as economic or non-economic events taking place. The research thesis was conducted to analyze the lucrativeness of steel enterprises listed on the Vietnamese stock market under the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as other factors in the period 2012 – 2023.
The dependent variable is the return on assets (ROA) which represents the profitability of the business. Independent variables include Business Size (SIZE), Revenue Growth (GROWTH), Liquidity (LIQ), Financial Leverage (LEV), Inflation Rate (LIQ), COVID-19 Pandemic (COVID), and finally Economic Growth (GDP). The quantitative research method analyzes regression analysis by table data with three modes of regression: Pooled OLS, FEM, and REM. After comparing and selecting the model, the thesis examines the defects present in the model, and to overcome the defects present in the model, the author uses the feasible general least squares method (FGLS).
The results of the study show that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a detrimental influence on the firm’s gainfulness. In addition, revenue growth has a beneficial impact on the return on total assets, whereas inflation and financial leverage have the opposite effect. Besides, the size of the business and the liquidity are not statistically significant. From there, the thesis also discusses the statistically substantial outcomes in the model with empirical studies, and the author also researches and proposes some solutions to help company managers increase the profitability of businesses.
Keywords: profitability, COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19, ROA, steel industry iii DECLARATION I declare that this graduation thesis is the author's research work, the research results are neutral and real, and do not contain previously published content or content published by done by others except for full citations in the thesis. The author Hoang Nguyen Thanh Huong iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENT First and foremost, I express my sincere gratitude to all the teachers and lecturers at Ho Chi Minh City University of Banking, who have passionately imparted knowledge and supported me throughout my four years of study. This period has been invaluable in equipping me with the necessary knowledge for my future career, and I have also had the opportunity to forge lasting friendships and exchange knowledge with my peers. I would also like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Dr.
Nguyen Anh Tu for generously sharing his expertise and guidance, which were instrumental in completing this graduation thesis. Additionally, I am grateful for the unwavering support and encouragement from my family and friends, who have been with me every step of the way in my journey of learning and skill development in preparation for my future career. v LIST OF ACRONYMS Abbreviation Meaning CBAM EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism COVID-19 Coronavirus disease ERP Enterprise Resource Planning FEM Fixed Effect Model FGLS Feasible Generalized Least Squares Method GDP Gross Domestic Product GMM Generalized Method of Moments GSO General Statistics Office of Vietnam OLS The smallest squared method REM Random Effect Model ROA Return On Assets ROE Return On Equity WHO World Health Organization WSA World Steel Association VSA Vietnam Steel Association VIF Variance Inflation Factor vi TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT. iv LIST OF ACRONYMS .v LIST OF TABLES .x LIST OF FIGURES.
REASONS FOR CHOOSING THE TOPIC. SUBJECT AND SCOPE OF RESEARCH. Research methods and tools. STRUCTURE OF THESIS.
THE CONTRIBUTION OF RESEARCH. THEORETICAL BASIC OF PROFITABILITY. The concept of profitability. Criteria for evaluating the firm’s profitability.
Theory of shocks affecting the economy. Market Power Theory. Efficiency Structure Hypothesis. Research Factors Affecting Business Profitability.
Research the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on business profitability 16 2. VARIABLES DETERMINATION AND RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS. The COVID-19 Pandemic. Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
MULTI-COLLINEARITY TESTING. PANEL DATA REGRESSION RESULTS. SELECTING SUITABLE REGRESSION MODEL. Verification between OLS Pooled Model and FEM models.
Verification between REM and FEM. TESTING DEFECTS IN THE REM MODEL. FIXING REGRESSION MODEL DEFECT. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION.
LIMITATIONS AND FUTURE RESEARCH DIRECTIONS. future research directions .58 x LIST OF TABLES Table 3.2: Summary table of variables included in the research model. Correlation matrix between variables in the model. Result of multicollinearity testing.
Regression results based on Pooled OLS, FEM, and REM. Results of F – test between models Pooled OLS and FEM. Results of the Hausman test between models FEM and REM. Results of Autocorrelation Test.
Results of Heteroscedasticity test. Model estimation FGLS. Summary of research results .Error! Bookmark not defined. xi LIST OF FIGURES 1 CHAPTER 1.
INTRODUCTION Chapter 1 will introduce the reason for implementing the topic. Based on that, the thesis will present the research objectives, at the same time raise corresponding research questions, and show the scope and objectives of the research. In addition, this chapter will also present the research method, research process, contribution of the topic, and structure of the thesis. REASONS FOR CHOOSING THE TOPIC A well-developed iron and steel industry is crucial for a country's economy proactively and solidly.
The World Steel Association Report (2019) highlights steel's significance as a vital component for various industries, from hand tools to complex machinery and infrastructure. Essentially, the steel industry acts as a foundation for other sectors, providing essential raw materials (WSA, 2019). Furthermore, this labor-intensive industry significantly contributes to the national budget (Ministry of Finance of Vietnam, 2016), making it a key economic sector deserving of substantial investment and development. Steel's extensive applications underscore its adaptability and environmental friendliness, as it is 100% recyclable.
Its low production cost compared to other materials also explains its widespread use. Important steel products, such as steel cables, bars, and plates, enable high-pressure boilers and robust machinery. In Vietnam, the steel industry has thrived, becoming one of the most advanced sectors in the country. Vietnam emerged as the leading steel producer in Southeast Asia, significantly boosting economic development and creating numerous jobs.
In 2021 and 2022, Vietnam ranked 13th globally in crude steel output, producing 23 million and 20 million tons, respectively (WSA, 2021 & 2022). However, the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic not only affects the world economy in general and Vietnam in particular, but the epidemic also endangers human life. As of March 17, 2024, more than 774 million infections and more than 7 2 million deaths from COVID-19 have been recorded worldwide (World Health Organization, 2024). The spread of the pandemic also caused extremely serious damage to the financial system and the global economy (Bakas & Triantafyllou, 2020), paralyzing economies with both financial and economic shocks (Rizvi & al.
Most manufacturing countries around the world began implementing blockade measures as a last resort to prevent the spread of Covid-19. As a result of the pandemic, an estimated 2.7 billion people or more than four-fifths of workers in the global workforce have been affected by lockdowns and stay-at-home measures (Deloitte Insights, 2020). The steel industry was also seriously affected. WSA announced that global steel production decreased by 1.4% in the first 3 months of 2020 due to several main reasons such as reduced automobile production, suspended construction projects, or reduced demand from the energy industry shoot, etc.
In Vietnam, the first case of SARS-CoV-2 infection was recorded at the end of January 2020 in Ho Chi Minh City (Ministry of Health, 2020). The government issued blockade and quarantine orders, causing the economy to begin to face difficulties, especially production and business activities of enterprises and import- export activities. Most businesses have encountered negative impacts on business results during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, affected by several State policies, including interest rates, inflation, and other policies. According to the Vietnam Steel Association (2020), the COVID-19 pandemic has affected market congestion and goods cannot circulate.
Growth in Vietnam's steel products and consumption in 2019 only reached 4.4%, much lower than the double-digit growth of 14. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted the development of export markets and trade and transportation between countries. In the first half of 2020, domestic steel exporters faced difficulties obtaining export licenses in Indonesia due to the pandemic's impact, resulting in unfavorable conditions for flat steel exports (VCBS, 2020). Additionally, internal steel manufacturers relied heavily on importing 3 raw materials and accessories from China.
The pandemic caused a slowdown or even a standstill in trade activities between Vietnam and China. While existing inventory remained in warehouses, new shipments of raw materials ordered from foreign partners at the end of 2019 arrived at ports, compounding the challenges. Amidst falling prices and stagnant goods circulation, many loans were due for repayment, and storage and warehousing costs increased. These challenges arose even as most construction projects were halted, leading to a sharp decline in production and business efficiency for steel enterprises, resulting in losses (VSA, 2020).
The COVID-19 pandemic has posed an unprecedented challenge to humanity, endangering the lives of millions worldwide (Maksim Belitski et al. Numerous studies globally have examined the pandemic's impact on business performance and profitability across various sectors. However, in Vietnam, there has been limited research on the steel industry, particularly regarding the effects of economic crises, natural disasters, or epidemics on business profitability. Consequently, the author investigated "The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the profitability of steel industry enterprises listed on the Vietnamese stock market" to explore how the pandemic has affected these companies' profitability, considering both negative and positive impacts.
The study aims to offer recommendations for managing risks and enhancing the operational efficiency of steel industry enterprises, thereby contributing to the sustainable development of the economy. General Objectives This study aims to examine the profitability of steel industry companies listed on the Vietnamese stock market affected during the COVID-19 pandemic. From the research results, the thesis makes recommendations for future financial managers. Specific Objectives First, analyze the impact of internal and external factors on the steel industry enterprises listed on the stock market in Vietnam.
Second, analyze the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the lucrativeness of steel industry companies listed on the stock market in Vietnam. Third, recommend solutions to contribute to improving business efficiency for companies. RESEARCH QUESTIONS First, what is the extent of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the profitability of listed steel industry companies in Vietnam? Second, how do internal and external factors affect the gainfulness of steel industry firms listed on the stock market in Vietnam? Third, what solutions can assist enhance the corporation operations of listed steel industry companies in Vietnam? 1. SUBJECT AND SCOPE OF RESEARCH 1.
Research Subjects The research object of the project is the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on 18 steel enterprises listed on the stock market in Vietnam. Research scope ❖ Spatial scope: This thesis researches 18 steel industry enterprises listed on the stock market in Vietnam. ❖ Time scope: The research data in the article is collected over time from 2012 to 2023. Data sources The thesis uses quantitative research methods on Stata software and analyzes available data in publicly announced financial reports of listed steel industry companies in 2012 - 2023.
Data are taken annually, and collected at the end of the fiscal year.