International Journal of Economics, Commerce and Management United Kingdom Vol. IV, Issue 12, December 2016 http://ijecm.co.uk/ ISSN 2348 0386 EFFECT OF FINANCIAL LEVERAGE ON PROFITABILITY OF LISTED AGRICULTURAL FIRMS AT THE NAIROBI SECURITIES EXCHANGE David Chesang Accountant (C. P. A.), Baringo County Government, Kenya
[email protected] Caroline Okello Ayuma Lecturer, Kisii University, School of Business and Economics, Kenya
[email protected] Abstract The financial leverage decisions made by a firm are a vital one as the performance of a firm is directly affected by such decision; hence, managers should trade with concern when taking debt-equity mix decisions. The objective of the study was to examine the effect of financial leverage on profitability of agricultural firms listed at the Nairobi Securities Exchange. The specific objectives were to, determine the effect of debt to equity ratio on the profitability of listed agricultural firms at Nairobi Securities Exchange, the effect of long term debt to capital employed on Nairobi securities exchange, determine the effect of current ratio on the profitability of listed agricultural firms at Nairobi securities exchange and to establish the effect of firm size on the profitability of agricultural firms listed at the Nairobi securities exchange. The study was anchored on four theories i.e. pecking order Theory, Agency theory, Tradeoff theory and Net income theory. The study used a descriptive research design. The study targeted 66 listed firms at Nairobi securities exchange and a target population of all the seven agricultural firms listed at the Nairobi securities Exchange. The study used regression model to determine the effect of independent and dependent variables under study.