Economic value added (EVA) as a performance measurement for GLCs vs non-GLCs: Evidence from Bursa Malaysia

Abstract

EVA is a useful tool for assessing company performance. It combines factors, such as economy, accounting and market information in its assessment. This study employed EVA in an attempt to compare the companies' performances of GLCs (government-linked companies) and non-GLCs. Based on a 4-year pooled panel data of 37 GLCs and 208 non-GLCs, the results show that companies with government as their stakeholders tend to exhibit lower EVA scores than the companies without government stakeholders in Malaysia. Larger size companies were found to have lower EVA values. Companies which have both the characteristics-which are simultaneously large in size and government-owned, tend to be most adversely affected. Thus, any increment in the size of company for GLCs would decrease or destroy the value of the company, and to a greater degree, than companies without government holding.