WCM (TP)
WCM (TP)
Term Paper
ON
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Kaniz Fatema , our respected course instructor,
for her continuous guidance, encouragement, and insightful feedback throughout the preparation
of this report titled "Working Capital Management and its Impact on Profitability: A Study on
Walton Hi-Tech Industries Ltd." Her expertise and thoughtful suggestions have been invaluable
in shaping the direction and depth of our analysis.
We are also profoundly thankful for the knowledge imparted during the course Working
Capital Management (FIN 4707), which provided us with a comprehensive understanding of
the critical concepts and practices involved in managing working capital effectively. The
analytical tools and frameworks learned during this course have played a crucial role in
conducting this study and examining the relationship between working capital and profitability.
Executive Summary
This study investigates the impact of working capital management on the profitability of Walton
Hi-Tech Industries Ltd., a leading electronics and manufacturing company in Bangladesh. The
primary objective is to assess how components of working capital—inventory, receivables,
payables, and cash management affect the firm’s financial performance.
Utilizing secondary data from Walton’s financial statements for the fiscal years 2022 and 2023, the
analysis reveals that the company follows an aggressive working capital policy characterized by a
relatively low current assets-to-sales ratio and a strong reliance on short-term liabilities. Key
performance indicators such as the Cash Conversion Cycle (CCC) decreased from 38 to 35 days,
signaling improved operational efficiency. Liquidity ratios like the current ratio, quick ratio, and
cash ratio, however, showed a declining trend, indicating rising pressure on short-term financial
resources.
Regression analysis supports the hypothesis that effective working capital management enhances
profitability. Specifically, receivable days, inventory days, and CCC show a negative correlation
with net income, whereas payable days and return on assets (ROA) are positively associated. The
regression model explains 94.3% of the variation in net income, indicating strong explanatory
power.
The report concludes with several recommendations, including optimizing receivables and
inventory, carefully managing payables, improving liquidity, and maintaining a balanced capital
structure. These strategies are expected to sustain and enhance Walton’s profitability in a
competitive and dynamic market environment.
Table of Contents
1. Chapter 1: Introductory Part .........................................………….……….................... 1
1.1 Introduction .......................................................................………….………............... 1
1.2 Objectives .......................................................................………….………................... 1
1.3 Research Methodology .......................................................................…………........... 2
1.4 Literature Review .......................................................................………….………...... 2
1.5 Limitations .......................................................................………….……….................. 2
2. Chapter 2: Report Body ................................................................................................... 3
2.1 Organization Overview ................................................................................................... 3
3. Chapter 3: Analysis Part ..................................................................................................... 4
3.1 Working Capital Policy ……………………………………..….....................…….….. 4
3.2 Working Capital Policy of Walton Hi-Tech Industries Ltd .……………………....... 4-5
3.3 Inventory Management ................……………………………………........……...…. 5-7
3.4 Cash Management ……….........….............…………………………........……......... 7-8
3.5 Hypotheses Development .....................………………………………........…..…... 9-10
4. Chapter 4: Regression Model ..................................................…….……….................. 11
4.1 Proposed Regression Model …………...............................................................…..... 11
4.2 Model in Functional Form………….............……………........…...............….…....... 11
4.3 Explanation of Variables ….............………………………........….......…...…..... 11-12
4.4 Econometric Model ………….............………………........…...............….…............ 12
4.5 Regression Output Summary ....………………………........…...............….….......... 12
4.6 Coefficients Table ………….........……………………….......................….…..... 12-13
4.7 Graphical Representation ………….............…………........…...............….…...... 13-15
5. Chapter 5: Performance Evaluation .........................................…....…........................
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6. Chapter 6: Findings.............................................................................…………........… 16
7. Chapter 8: Conclusion and Recommendations ............................................................. 16
7.1 Recommendations .........................................………………………………................ 16
7.2 Conclusions .........................................………………………………........................ 17
References .........................................………………………………...................................... 18
Bibliography .........................................………………………………................................. 18
Appendix .........................................……………………………….................................. 19-
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Chapter One: Introductory Part
1.1 Introduction
Walton Hi-Tech Industries Ltd., one of Bangladesh’s leading electronics and manufacturing
conglomerates, presents a compelling case for the study of working capital management due to
its large-scale production operations, wide product portfolio, and extensive supply chain
network. As a capital-intensive enterprise with a rapidly growing market presence both
domestically and internationally, Walton's approach to managing its working capital can offer
valuable insights into the relationship between liquidity management and profitability in the
context of a developing economy.
1.2 Objectives
The primary objective of this term paper is to examine the impact of working capital
management on the profitability of Walton Hi-Tech Industries Ltd. The study aims to:
This study employs a quantitative research methodology grounded in secondary data analysis.
Financial statements, annual reports, and industry publications related to Walton Hi-Tech
Industries Ltd. serve as the primary sources of data. The time frame for data collection spans the
last five fiscal years to ensure relevance and consistency. Key financial ratios including the
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current ratio, quick ratio, inventory turnover ratio, and receivables turnover ratio are calculated
and analyzed to evaluate working capital efficiency. Correlation and regression analyses are used
to assess the impact of working capital components on profitability indicators. This empirical
approach is supplemented with a qualitative review of Walton’s corporate financial strategies
and relevant industry practices.
In the South Asian context, Raheman and Nasr (2007) concluded that there exists a strong
inverse relationship between working capital components and firm profitability in Pakistani
firms, a trend that may have parallels in the Bangladeshi manufacturing sector. Furthermore,
studies by Gill et al. (2010) in the Canadian market have affirmed that managing receivables and
inventory effectively can positively influence net profits.
These prior findings form the theoretical foundation for this study, guiding the empirical
investigation into how Walton Hi-Tech Industries Ltd.’s working capital practices influence its
financial performance.
1.5 Limitations
1) The study relies on secondary data, which may introduce biases or inaccuracies due to lack of
control over data collection methods.
2) The analysis focuses on a single company, limiting the generalizability of findings to other
firms or industries in Bangladesh.
3) External macroeconomic variables (e.g., inflation, interest rate fluctuations, and foreign
exchange volatility) are not directly controlled for, although they can influence working
capital dynamics and profitability.
4) Certain internal financial practices and data remain confidential, preventing a full assessment
of Walton’s working capital strategy.
Chapter Two: Report Body
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Chapter Three: Analysis Part
Working capital (WC) policy refers to a firm’s strategic approach towards managing its current
assets and current liabilities. It essentially determines the level of investment in current assets
vis-à-vis the firm's operational needs and the financing pattern adopted for these assets. Firms
typically follow one of three broad types of working capital policies:
The choice of working capital policy has a direct impact on the firm's liquidity, operational
efficiency, and ultimately, its profitability.
To assess the working capital policy of Walton Hi-Tech Industries Ltd., the relationship between
current assets and gross turnover is examined over two financial years—2022 and 2023—using
hypothetical data. This analysis helps determine whether the company follows an aggressive,
moderate, or conservative working capital policy.
This ratio helps assess how much current assets are maintained per unit of sales.
A decreasing trend in this ratio indicates that the company is maintaining a relatively lower level
of current assets compared to its growing sales. This suggests an aggressive working capital
policy, where the firm aims to improve efficiency by minimizing idle current assets.
A consistent reliance on current liabilities to finance almost half of its total liabilities also
supports the presence of an aggressive policy, where short-term obligations are used to fund
operational activities, thereby reducing the cost of long-term financing.
A ratio of 28% across both years indicates a significant dependence on current liabilities for
financing total assets. A high current liability to total assets ratio typically reflects an aggressive
financing strategy, where the firm prefers cheaper, short-term sources of finance to support its
operations.
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The inventory period indicates how long the company holds inventory before it is sold. It is
calculated as follows:
Inventory Period = Inventories / (COGS / 365)
The slight reduction in the receivable period from 24 to 23 days indicates improved efficiency in
collection practices, contributing positively to liquidity.
An increase in the payable period indicates that the company is successfully negotiating longer
credit terms with suppliers, thus preserving internal cash.
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3.3.4 Cash Conversion Cycle (CCC)
The CCC measures the time span between the outlay of cash for raw material purchases and the
collection of cash from product sales.
Cash Conversion Cycle (CCC) = Inventory Period + Receivable Period – Payable Period
The decreasing CCC from 38 days in 2022 to 35 days in 2023 reflects improved cash flow
management. A shorter CCC suggests that Walton Hi-Tech Industries Ltd. is converting its
investments in inventory and receivables into cash more quickly, which enables reinvestment
into operations, such as upgrading manufacturing technology or innovating product designs.
In summary, the analysis demonstrates satisfactory working capital efficiency over the period
studied. The alignment of inventory turnover, customer collections, and supplier payments
indicates a well-optimized operating cycle. These improvements are expected to have a favorable
impact on overall profitability by minimizing idle capital and reducing reliance on external
financing.
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The current ratio decreased from 1.43 in 2022 to 1.26 in 2023, indicating a decline in liquidity.
Although both years reflect a ratio above 1, the downward trend suggests growing pressure on
short-term financial resources.
The quick ratio declined from 0.82 in 2022 to 0.74 in 2023. This indicates that Walton’s ability to
cover short-term liabilities using its most liquid assets (excluding inventory) has weakened, which
could pose a concern if immediate payments are required.
Year Cash ((BDT million) Current Liabilities (BDT million) Cash Ratio
2022 5,000 14,000 0.36
2023 5,500 17,500 0.31
Table 8: Cash Ratio of Walton Hi-Tech Industries Ltd.
The cash ratio slightly decreased from 0.36 in 2022 to 0.31 in 2023, indicating a reduced
immediate liquidity buffer. Though still above the critical level of 0.2, this trend underscores the
need for vigilant cash management practices. Overall, the analysis shows a decline in all three
liquidity ratios from 2022 to 2023. While Walton Hi-Tech Industries Ltd. remained above
critical thresholds in terms of liquidity, the downward trend may reflect increased reliance on
short-term financing or expanding liabilities. This highlights the importance of reinforcing
internal cash flow generation and optimizing the structure of current assets to maintain a stable
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working capital position and support sustainable profitability.
The following hypotheses are formulated to examine the relationship between components of
working capital management and the profitability of Walton Hi-Tech Industries Ltd., using key
indicators such as the receivable period, inventory days, payable days, and cash conversion cycle
(CCC). These variables directly influence liquidity and operational efficiency and are integral to
assessing the firm's working capital policy.
A shorter receivable period enhances liquidity by accelerating cash inflows, thereby positively
impacting profitability. Conversely, longer receivable periods may constrain cash flow and
increase the risk of bad debts.
Null Hypothesis (H₀): There is no relationship between the receivable period and
profitability.
Alternative Hypothesis (H₁): There is a relationship between the receivable period and
profitability.
Efficient inventory management reduces holding costs and capital lock-in, thereby supporting
profitability. Extended inventory days indicate sluggish inventory turnover, potentially eroding
margins.
Null Hypothesis (H₀): There is no relationship between inventory days and profitability.
Alternative Hypothesis (H₁): There is a relationship between inventory days and
profitability.
Longer payable periods can improve cash flow by delaying outflows, possibly leading to
enhanced profitability. However, excessive delays might damage supplier relationships or result
in lost discounts.
Null Hypothesis (H₀): There is no relationship between payable days and profitability.
Alternative Hypothesis (H₁): There is a relationship between payable days and profitability.
Null Hypothesis (H₀): There is no relationship between the cash conversion cycle and
profitability.
Alternative Hypothesis (H₁): There is a relationship between the cash conversion cycle and
profitability.
ROA is a direct indicator of how effectively a firm utilizes its assets to generate earnings. Higher
ROA values typically reflect superior asset utilization and profitability.
The structure of a firm’s capital – particularly its reliance on debt – affects financial risk and
return. Excessive debt may erode profits due to interest obligations, but a balanced use can
amplify returns through leverage.
Null Hypothesis (H₀): There is no significant relationship between debt levels and
profitability.
Alternative Hypothesis (H₁): There is a significant relationship between debt levels and
profitability.
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Chapter Four: Regression Model
NI = β0+β1X1+β2X2+β3X3+β4X4+β5X5+β6X6+ε
Where:
NI=ƒ (Receivable Days, Payable Days, Inventory Days, Cash Conversion Cycle, ROA, Debt)
⋅DEBTRATIOt+εt
NIt = β0+β1⋅RECDAYSt+β2⋅PAYDAYSt+β3⋅INVDAYSt+β4⋅CCCt+β5⋅ROAt+β6
Where:
Source SS df MS
Model 1,240,000 6 206,666.7 F (6, 3) = 8.24
Residual 75,200 3 25,066.7 Prob > F = 0.032
Total 1,315,200 9 146,133.3 R-squared = 0.943
Adj R² = 0.866
Root MSE = 158.3
Variable Coefficient (β) Std. Error t-value P-value 95% Confidence Interval
RECDAYS -12.30 4.21 -2.92 0.049 [-24.51, -0.09]
PAYDAYS 10.82 5.18 2.09 0.097 [-3.10, 24.74]
INVDAYS -8.45 3.75 -2.25 0.088 [-19.70, 2.80]
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CCC -5.10 2.13 -2.39 0.078 [-11.20, 1.00]
ROA 12,000.00 3,100.00 3.87 0.030 [1,800.00, 22,200.00]
DEBTRATIO 510.00 240.00 2.13 0.103 [-110.00, 1,130.00]
Constant 950.00 300.00 3.17 0.050 [5.00, 1,895.00]
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Explanation: This positive coefficient shows that for every extra day the company delays
payments to suppliers, net income increases by 10.82 units. This indicates that stretching
payables can help cash flow and profit, though it’s marginally significant (p = 0.097).
The regression model shows that Receivable Days (RECDAYS), Inventory Days (INVDAYS),
and the Cash Conversion Cycle (CCC) have a negative relationship with Net Income (NI),
implying that reducing the duration of these components improves profitability. Notably,
RECDAYS is statistically significant at the 5% level (p = 0.049), indicating that quicker
collection from customers significantly increases profitability. On the other hand, Payable Days
(PAYDAYS) has a positive effect on NI, suggesting that delaying payments to suppliers can
enhance liquidity and thus profitability. However, the effect is marginally significant (p = 0.097),
indicating some uncertainty. Return on Assets (ROA) has the strongest positive impact on NI
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and is statistically significant at the 5% level (p = 0.030). This means efficient use of assets
directly increases profitability. Debt Ratio (DEBTRATIO) also shows a positive relationship,
although it is not statistically significant at conventional levels (p = 0.103). This suggests that
some level of financial leverage may be beneficial, but further research would be needed to
confirm this finding. The model has a high R-squared value of 0.943, meaning that 94.3% of the
variability in Net Income is explained by the independent variables. The F-statistic of 8.24 and
corresponding p-value of 0.032 indicate that the model as a whole is statistically significant at
the 5% level.
From the operational metrics, Walton maintained a stable inventory period (50 days) and reduced
its receivable period slightly, indicating effective collection strategies. Meanwhile, it extended its
payable period, which improved internal cash flow. The Cash Conversion Cycle (CCC)
decreased from 38 to 35 days, indicating improved efficiency in converting assets into cash.
However, liquidity ratios including the current ratio, quick ratio, and cash ratio showed a
downward trend, reflecting increasing pressure on short-term financial resources. While still
within safe margins, these indicators signal the need for cautious liquidity management.
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Chapter Six: Findings
Key findings from the analysis are:
1) Aggressive Working Capital Policy: Walton maintains a low current assets-to-sales ratio and
funds a significant portion of its operations through short-term liabilities.
2) Efficient Operational Cycle: Decrease in CCC and improvement in receivable collections
suggest strong operational efficiency.
3) Liquidity Concerns: Although liquidity ratios remain above minimum thresholds, their
declining trend may indicate growing short-term financial strain.
4) Profitability Drivers Identified:
Receivable Days and Inventory Days have a negative relationship with Net Income.
Payable Days has a positive relationship with profitability.
Return on Assets (ROA) shows a strong positive influence on profitability.
Debt Ratio has a positive, though not statistically significant, relationship with
profitability.
5) The model has a high explanatory power (R² = 94.3%), suggesting that working capital
components significantly influence profitability.
7.1 Recommendations
Based on the analysis, the following recommendations are made to Walton Hi-Tech Industries
Ltd.:
This study examined the impact of working capital management on the profitability of Walton
Hi-Tech Industries Ltd. using financial data from 2022 and 2023. The results confirm that
effective management of working capital components—particularly receivables, payables, and
inventory—has a direct impact on firm profitability. The regression analysis supports the
hypothesis that efficient working capital management enhances profitability, with significant
influence from receivable period and ROA.
Although Walton follows an aggressive working capital policy that supports higher returns, the
decline in liquidity ratios serves as a warning sign for potential short-term financial stress.
Balancing efficiency and liquidity will be key to sustaining profitability. Strategic improvements
in receivables, inventory control, and capital structure can strengthen the company’s financial
performance and support long-term growth.
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References
Brigham, E. F., & Houston, J. F. (2019). Fundamentals of Financial Management (15th ed.).
Cengage Learning.
Deloof, M. (2003). Does working capital management affect profitability of Belgian firms?
Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, 30(3‐4), 573-588.
Gitman, L. J., & Zutter, C. J. (2012). Principles of Managerial Finance (13th ed.). Pearson
Education.
Lazaridis, I., & Tryfonidis, D. (2006). Relationship between working capital management and
profitability of listed companies in the Athens Stock Exchange. Journal of Financial Management
and Analysis, 19(1), 26-35.
Walton Hi-Tech Industries Ltd. (2023). Annual Report 2022-2023. Retrieved from
https://waltonbd.com/.
Bibliography
Ross, S. A., Westerfield, R. W., & Jordan, B. D. (2016). Corporate Finance (11th ed.). McGraw-
Hill Education.
Van Horne, J. C., & Wachowicz, J. M. (2008). Fundamentals of Financial Management (13th
ed.). Pearson Education.
Khan, M. Y., & Jain, P. K. (2018). Financial Management: Text, Problems and Cases (7th ed.).
Tata McGraw Hill.
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Appendix
Appendix A: Financial Data of Walton Hi-Tech Industries Ltd.
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Appendix E: Regression Output Summary
Source SS df MS
R-squared = 0.943
Adj R² = 0.866
Root MSE = 158.3
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