Impact of Covid-19 on Liquidity, Profitability, and Financial Health: A case study of 3 sectors from Stock Exchange of Thailand

Abstract

Purpose-To test the impact of Covid-19 pandemic on Profitability, Liquidity, and Financial Health on the selected 3 sectors which are Tourism and Leisure Sector, Transportation and Logistics Sector, and Health Care Service Sector of the Stock Exchange of Thailand.

Design/methodology/approach-The author uses Wilcoxon MEAN and MEDIAN tests to test the statistically difference between the financial ratios from year 2019 and 2020. The 10 independent variables of financial ratios are ROA, ROE, Net Profit Margin, Acid Test, Current Ratio, Cash Ratio, Operating Cash Flow Ratio, Total Asset Turnover, Debt to Assets Ratio, Debt to Equity Ratio.

Findings-The result confirms the hypothesis that there is a significantly different in the result of Tourism and Leisure Sector on ROA, ROE, Net Profit Margin, and Total Asset Turnover. Which represent the dramatically impact of covid-19 on the Profitability and Financial Health of the firm. While there are not significantly different in Transportation and Logistic Sector and Health Care Sector.

Research implications-Researcher can use this Wilcoxon test in other sectors Thailand or in other country.

The investors are not recommended to invest in the stock under the sector of tourism and leisure sector due to the financial performance which effected by the covid-19 pandemic. However, investors who concentrate on long-term investing in securities may get beneficial opportunities by using the information to forecast the firm’s position and direction.

The investors should not be so panic about the performance of companies in other sectors because the financial performances of the companies in those sectors have not been significantly changed from covid-19 pandemic.