Working Capital Management and Profitability of Quoted Manufacturing Firms in Nigeria.

         ABSTRACT

This study examined the impact of working capital management and profitability of 10 quoted manufacturing companies in Nigeria using a cross-sectional time series data for the period 2010 – 2015. The study used secondary data generated from the published annual reports and account of the sampled companies. Data were analysed using correlation and descriptive statistics using SPSS 20. The study reviewed a positive effect of cash conversion cycle (CCC), receivable collection period (RCP), and a negative effect of inventory conversion period (ICP), payables payment period (PPP), on return on assets (a mirror of firms profitability). It was found that cash conversion cycle (CCC) with a positive sign is the most significant precision variable in influencing profitability and liquidity in Nigeria. The study therefore recommended (i) that the firms should promptly collect cash from credit sales, (ii) that excess cash should be reinvested in short-term securities (assets) to generate profits (iii) that since there exists high sales turnover in the Nigeria emerging markets, government policy should target multinational companies (MNCs) for invitation to participate in investing in Nigeria by creating the right legal and regulatory framework to enable them the market for possible FDI, IPI, and FPI injection into the Nigeria domestic economy.

KEYWORDS: working capital, liquidity, profitability, cash management