Determinants of Capital Structure in Textile Sector of Pakistan

With the application of regression with common effect this paper analyzed the empirical validity of two famous and formal theories (Trade off and Pecking order). We have selected four independent variables tangibility,size,profitability and growth and explored their relationships with the dependent variable leverage in textile sector companies. After proper filteration 132 firms were selected as final sample for analysis for the period of 2001-2009. Balance sheet analysis published by State Bank of Pakistan has been used for the purpose of collecting data. Among the four hypothesis,tangiblity and size of the company were supporting the trade off theory where as profitability and growth supported pecking order theory. To check the stationary of data six panel unit root tests have been applied which provided strong evidences of rejecting the unit root in the panel structure. The results of the regression showed that tangiblity is most influencial determinant in debt financing decision and positively associated with leverage which is a confirmation of hypothesized prediction of trade off theory. Size and profitability failed to support trade off theory with their negative coefficient and supported the hypothesized prediction of the Pecking order theory. Growth with its negative coefficient supported the trade off theory but the results are not realible as it was not statistically significant. Thus keeping in view the four hypothesis and based on their results there is stronger support for the Pecking order theory in textile sector of Pakistan.