Determinants of corporate cash holdings in Pakistan

Abstract

Corporate cash holdings always involve a trade-off between benefits and costs. This study investigates the determinants of corporate cash holdings. Cash flows, leverage, liquidity, cash flows volatility, profitability, growth opportunities, firm size, debt maturity, and dividend represent the independent variables in the research study. It is based on a panel data of 150 Pakistani non-financial listed firms on KSE during the period 2004-2012. Panel regression analysis has been conducted to determine the major factors affecting cash holdings. The results imply that growth opportunity, company size, cash flows, and profitability of the firms exert a positive effect while leverage and liquidity show a significant negative impact on corporate cash holding. The findings indicated that both pecking order theory and trade-off theory play an important role in explaining the determinants of corporate cash holdings. The findings are beneficial for managers, shareholders, investors, regulatory bodies, and researchers for developing appropriate policies.