Free Cash Flows and Corporate Buybacks: A Study of Indian Firms

The present research examined the effects of cash flow volatility on the buyback decisions of Indian firms. The sample constitutes 179 Indian companies listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange from 2012-2020. Firms have been divided into two sets, i.e., permanent and volatile cash flow firms. Across these two sets, the study determines the major factors affecting their buyback decisions. The results of ordinary least square regression suggested that when firms have fluctuating cash flows each year, they prefer to opt for repurchases than dividend payments. Further, stock undervaluation is the key determinant of repurchases decisions. Thus, firms with constant cash flows are not highly motivated for buyback decisions. Further, the study explored that larger the size of the firm, lower is the tendency to repurchase shares. Large, manufacturing and mature firms with consistent cash funds are more strongly tended towards repurchases. Correspondingly, such companies engaged in buybacks because of their low market-to-book ratios and high information asymmetry. As cash based firms become more old, their propensity to purchase equity reduces.