EFFECT OF LEVERAGE ON PROFITABILITY OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES LISTED ON THE NIGERIA STOCK EXCHANGE

Abstract

The study examined the effect of leverage on profitability of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) companies listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. The study adopted ex post facto research design. Sample of the study was made of five out of the eight ICT companies listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. Secondary source of data was collected from annual reports of the companies for the period 2012 to 2020. The data was analyzed using multiple regression analysis. The results show that there is no significant relationship between total debt ratio and return on assets of the ICT companies listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange and that debt-equity-ratio has no significant relationship with return on assets. Therefore, the study recommended that Companies in the ICT sector should watch carefully their continued use of leverage in their operations and that management of ICT companies should carefully monitor their debt to equity ratio to ensure that the interest of creditors and the owners is always kept in harmony in the overall interest of the survival of the company.