Relationship between Financial Structure and Financial Performance of Listed Firms in Nairobi Securities Exchange in Kenya

Abstract

Firms have alternative ways of raising their funds. Corporate financing decisions made by the management leads to a financial structure and improper financing behaviour and decisions can lead to corporate failure. A quagmire exists in the mind of stakeholders and researchers as to whether there exists an optimal financial structure that maximizes shareholders’ wealth. Thus when making financing choices there is need to consider evaluating the effect of the available financing alternatives on the firm’s financial performance. The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between financial structure and financial performance of listed firms in Kenya,by determining the effect of internal financing, equity financing, short term debt and long term debt on financial performance. Descriptive and historical research design was adopted. The study was a census, featuring all the listed companies that were operational from the year 2009 to 2016. Primary data collected by questionnaires and secondary data obtained from NSE handbooks and published financial statements of the firms listed in the NSE were utilized. Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regressions were used to analyze the data which was presented in form of tables and charts. It was revealed that the mean internal financing of the companies listed at the NSE had consistently increased from 5.346 billion shillings in the year 2009 to 14.7 billion shillings in the year 2016. However, the study did not establish a significant relationship between internal financing and financial performance of listed firms in Kenya. A statistically significant relationship between equity financing and financial performance of listed firms in the NSE was established. The relationship between short term debt financing and financial performance of listed firms in Kenya was not significant. The mean long term debt financing for the firms listed at NSE had greatly increased from 3.367 billion shillings in 2009 to 15.587 billion shillings in 2016. The relationship between long term debt financing and financial performance of listed firms in the NSE was found to be statistically significant. It was concluded that two out of the four financial structure components included in the study were significantly associated with financial performance of listed firms in the Nairobi Securities Exchange in Kenya. A firm that utilizes equity finance is able to excel financially since the equity holders are the residual claimants and they have to ensure that resources are allocated efficiently to be able to maximize shareholders wealth. Affordable long term debt assists a firm to access productive technologies that it would not have otherwise achieved using internal financing. It was recommended that the board of directors of the listed firms should always give priority to funding options with no compulsory returns to avoid financial distress associated with difficulties in meeting financial obligations. Besides, the management of the listed firms should always perform accurate forecasting on projects they intend to venture into, against the cost of debt and taking into consideration the payback period, in the event they want to source for long term external funding. Since the study focused on firms listed in the NSE, it is suggested that the study be extended to other firms and institutions not listed to assess whether different findings may be reached regarding relationship between financial structure and financial performance.