Determinants of Corporate Cash Holdings

Abstract

This article aims at examining the financial determinants of corporate cash holdings. The study employs panel data regression method. It uses the fixed-effects method based on Hausman test results for the estimation of panel data model. This study has implications that are beneficial for the business managers to have a better understanding and appreciation of the role and importance of the determinants of corporate cash holdings in formulating and evaluating the corporate financial policies. The results of the study indicate a strong positive relationship between cash holdings and cash flow, dividend payment, market-to-book ratio, net debt issuance and net equity issuance of the sample firms. It is also found that the cash holdings of these firms are negatively affected by net working capital, leverage, research and development expenditure as well as capital expenditure of the firm. The article will help researchers as well as managers to understand as to what motivates the firms to hold cash, given the fact that despite being often termed as a non-earning asset, firms generally hold more cash than their normal working capital requirement.