The issue in Indonesian palm oil stock decision making: Sustainable and risk criteria

Abstract

The palm oil industry has a strategic role in economic development in Indonesia, especially in alleviating poverty and creating other businesses that can support the industry. Operational activities in the palm oil industry are closely related to environmental issues (deforestation, land-use change, and air pollution) and social conflict. The certification program is an effort for the palm oil industry to implement sustainable development. The certified palm oil industry will increase industrial profitability in the long run to increase investor interest in the future. The decision to choose palm oil industry stocks that carry out sustainable practices and generate maximum returns is an exciting issue, but how investors can choose the right stocks and the minimum risk level. This study aims to apply the decision-making model to choose the optimal stock in the palm oil industry, which involves sustainable certification and risk criteria. The method used in this study was the Preference Ranking Organization Method for Enrichment Evaluation (PROMETHEE) based on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) data. Determinants of stock selection decisions from previous research are considered criteria for decision making. Through the PROMETHEE method, a list of the rankings of the oil palm industry shares can be generated. The sustainable certification and risk criteria can be used as a reference for relevant stakeholders such as investors. Further studies need to be developed by adding non-financial criteria in the firm and developing the criteria to differentiate each other.