Capital Structure and Firm Performance. Evidence from Japan Nikkei 225

Master's Thesis from the year 2020 in the subject Business economics - Investment and Finance, grade: 1,3, University of Greenwich, language: English, abstract: This study investigates what kind of impact different leverage ratios have on firm performance measurements Return on Assets, Return on Equity and Tobin¿s Q in selected firms listed on Nikkei 225 stock market (excluding Finance & Technology Sector). Furthermore, the influence of sector specific and possible control variables on capital structure (using long- & short-debt ratios) as well as firm performance will be analysed. The sample derive from 165 firms during the time period from 2014 to 2019 and analysed by using various Models multiple regression analysis.

Control variables Size and Growth show a clear positive effect on firm performance. In contrast, Tangibility has a negative impact on the model in which all companies are included, but has more positive coefficients in the model in which companies are divided into their industries. Additionally, this study suggests that the effect of leverage on firm performance differs among industries. Short- and long-term debt has positive impacts on different firm performance measurements by the Materials, Reals Estate, Energy and Communication Services Sector.