The Influence of Liquidity and Solvency on Performance within the Healthcare Industry: Evidence from Publicly Listed Companies

Abstract

Any lucrative economic activity implies aiming at obtaining a profit, including companies in the healthcare industry. The present study analyzes the extent to which financial liquidity and financial solvency influenced the performance of 34 healthcare companies that are publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange. The period of analysis spanned from Q4 2005 to Q4 2020. The research methodology favored a complex approach by running econometric models with two-stage least squares (2SLS) panel and panel generalized method of moments (GMM). Empirical evidence showed that the financial indicators current liquidity ratio, quick liquidity ratio, and debt to equity ratio significantly influenced company performance measured by return on assets, gross margin ratio, operating margin ratio, earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization. Strategies intended to improve business performance based on liquidity and solvency insights are also addressed.

Keywords

• liquidity
• solvency
• performance
• healthcare sector
• panel data modelling
• stock market