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DETERMINANTS OF DEBT-EQUITY RATIO IN QUOTED FIRMS: AN EMPIRICAL EXAMINATION IN NIGERIA

Nkechi Ijeoma·Chinonso Samuel Igwe
Published 16 January 2025
Vol. 11, No. 4 (2023)
pp. 17-31
CC BY 4.0
  1. 1
    Nkechi Ijeoma
    Department of Banking and Finance, Faculty of Management Sciences, Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt. Nigeria
    NG
  2. 2
    Chinonso Samuel Igwe
    Department of Mathematics, (Applied Statistics: Financial Econometrics), Faculty of Sciences, Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
    NG

This study investigates debt-equity variations and determinants with reference to quoted firms in Nigeria for the period 2009 to 2018. The major objective of the study is to ascertain the factors that influence the change in debt-equity. The data used is from fifteen listed firms in Nigeria, Preliminary analysis showed that income volatility, interest payment, asset tangibility, firm size and non-debt tax shield have high correlation with change in debt-equity ratio. All the independent variables are positively related to change in debt-equity ratio except income volatility. The panel unit root test showed that the data were all stationary at first differencing. The major findings indicated a positive and significant relationship between asset tangibility, firm size and change in debt-equity ratio of the selected firms. Interest payment and non-debt tax shield increased change in debt-equity ratio but insignificant, while income volatility showed a negative and insignificant effect on change in debt-equity ratio. The study recommends the need for quoted firms in Nigeria to provide quality management in various areas of the businesses activities to ensure the stability of income, without which can cause numerous businesses.

JournalInternational Journal of Banking and Financial Services
ISSN3065-0615
Volume / IssueVol. 11, No. 4 (2023)
Pages17-31
Published16 January 2025
Access Open Access
LicenseCC BY 4.0 — reuse with attribution
PublisherKeith Publications
Ijeoma , N., Igwe, C. (2025). DETERMINANTS OF DEBT-EQUITY RATIO IN QUOTED FIRMS: AN EMPIRICAL EXAMINATION IN NIGERIA. International Journal of Banking and Financial Services, Vol. 11 No. 4, pp. 17-31

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