Moderating Effect of Firm Size on the Relationship between Financial Metrics and Share Price of Listed Agriculture and Consumer Goods Firms in Nigeria

Abstract

In view of scholars-established link between firm size and share price and the suggested dual causality nexus between firm size and financial performance, the study examined the moderating effect of firm size on the relationship between financial metrics and share prices of listed agriculture and consumer goods firms in Nigeria. It controlled for the pervasive macroeconomic variables of inflation, interest rate and exchange rate. Using purposive sampling technique, a sample of 20 out of the 26 firms of study was obtained. Secondary data were sourced from annual published financial statements of the firms, while the macroeconomic data were obtained from the National Bureau of Statistics and the Central Bank of Nigeria. Generalized least squares regression analysis was performed with the aid of STATA 17. The outcome indicated that return on equity, earnings per share, and firm size, each has a significant positive effect on share prices of listed agriculture and consumer goods firms in Nigeria while current ratio, debt-equity ratio, and total assets turnover each has a non-significant effect on the share prices. Furthermore, firm size has a significant moderating effect on the relationship between financial metrics (proxied by current ratio, and earnings per share) and share prices of listed agriculture and consumer goods firms in Nigeria. In the same vein, firm size has a non-significant moderating effect on the relationship between financial metrics (proxied by current ratio, debt-equity ratio, and total assets turnover) and share prices of listed agriculture and consumer goods firms in Nigeria. Therefore, it was recommended that Security and Exchange Commission should prioritize the appropriate disclosure of the identified key metrics in the financial statements. Furthermore, investors should consider the moderating effect of firm size on the financial metrics to better understand how different metrics impact share prices for firms of varying sizes and adjust their investment strategy accordingly.