Debt Financing and Corporate Finance Performance: A Dynamic Investigation from Nigeria Quoted Firms

Abstract

There are two components of corporate capital. This paper examined the effect of debt financing on the financial performance of quoted firms in Nigeria stock exchange using time series data from 2000-2017. The objective was to examine the controversial findings of scholars on the effect of capital structure on corporate performance of firms.  Return on assets and return on equity was modeled as the function of debt equity ratio, debt ratio, equity ratio, total liability ratio and long term debt ratio. Multiple regressions with the aid of statistical package for social sciences were used as data analysis techniques. Model one found that a correlation coefficient (r) of .872 this implies that a very strong correlation exists between return on assets and explanatory variables. The coefficient of determination (r²) is .678 which shows that 67.8% of the variation in Return on Assets is attributable to the variations in the financial leverage. Also, the F- value calculated of 8.338 has a correlation corresponding value of .004 which implies a good model utility. The test of significance conducted as shown in the tables above states that ROA has a calculated value of 242.032 and a corresponding significance value/probability value of .014.   The positive sign of t-value (1.653) shows the direction of the variables. This therefore implies that when a financial leverage is well used, this leads to a better, reliable and fairer financial result that is objective and represent the true state of affairs in the food and beverage companies proportionately. Model two found that a correlation coefficient (r) of .772 this implies that a very strong correlation exists between return on assets and explanatory variables. The coefficient of determination (r²) is .639 which shows that 63.9% of the variation in return on equity   is attributable to the variations in the financial leverage. Also, the F- value calculated of 7.644 has a correlation corresponding value of .004 which implies a good model utility. The test of significance conducted as shown in the tables above states that ROE has a calculated value of 568.906 and a corresponding significance value/probability value of .003.  The positive sign of t-value (3.310) shows the direction of the variables. This therefore implies that when a financial leverage is well used, this leads to a better, reliable and fairer financial result that is objective and represent the true state of affairs in the food and beverage companies proportionately. We recommend that management of the firms should work very hard to optimize the capital structure in order to increase the returns on equity and assets and that Management of Nigerian firms should increase their commitments into capital structure in order to improve earnings from their business transaction.