Factors Affecting Profitability of Insurance Companies in Ethiopia: Panel Evidence

Abstract

Profitability is one of the most important objectives of financial management because one goal of financial management is to maximize the owner` s wealth. This paper examined the effects of firm specific factors (age of company, size of company, leverage ratio, premium growth rate liquidity ratio and tangibility of assets) on profitability proxied by ROA. Profitability is dependent variable while age of company, size of company, premium growth rate,leverage liquidity ratio and tangibility of assets) are independent variables. The sample in this study includes nine of the listed insurance companies for twelve years (2005-2016). Secondary data obtained from the financial statements (Balance sheet and Profit/Loss account) of insurance companies, financial publications of NBE are analyzed.Panel data analyzed using Random Effect Model (FEM) after testing the appropriateness of the model with Fixed Effect and Pooled regression model. From the regression results; size,premium growth rate and liquidity and age are identified as most important determinant factors of profitability hence premium growth rate and size, are positively related. In contrast liquidity and age negatively but significantly related with profitability. Lastly, leverage and tangibility of asset are not significantly related with profitability.