THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ACCOUNTING NET PROFIT, NET CASH FLOW FROM FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES, AND SUSTAINABILITY PERFORMANCE WITHIN THE SUSTAINABLE STOCK GROUP OF A COMPANY LISTED ON THE STOCK EXCHANGE OF THAILAND
Keywords:
Accounting net profit, Sustainability performance, ESG rating, Cash flow, The stock exchange of Thailand (SET)Abstract
Introduction/Main Objectives: This research aims to examine the relationship between accounting net profit, cash flow from financial activities, and sustainability performance within the sustainable stock group of companies listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET). Background Problems: As environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) issues become increasingly important in the evaluation of investments and business practices, a company requiring strong ESG support to impact its long-term sustainability may consider allocating its net profits to promote and support such initiatives. This could help project a positive image for the company, ensuring its long-term viability. Novelty: The net cash flow from financing activities is used as a moderating variable to analyze its influence on the relationship between the independent and dependent variables. Research Methods: This research used quantitative data to examine the relationship between accounting net profit, net cash flow from financial activities, and sustainability performance in the sustainable stock group of companies listed on the SET. The following variables were selectively determined: accounting net profit as the independent variable, cash flow from financial activities as the moderating variable, and sustainability performance, measured by the rating of ESG disclosures of the sustainable stock group of companies, as the dependent variable. Findings/Results: The results show a significant effect of accounting net profit on sustainability performance. Additionally, cash flow from financial activities has a significant moderating effect on the relationship between accounting net profit and sustainability performance. Conclusion: This research found that if a company has a higher accounting net profit, it is likely to achieve better sustainability performance. Furthermore, cash flows from investment and financing activities significantly influence this relationship, enhancing sustainability performance.
References
Amattayakul, K., Phongsuphat, T., & Phongsuphat, A. (2021). Factors affecting sustainable growth of sustainable investment groups in the Stock Exchange of Thailand. Journal of Buddhist Education and Research, 7(3), 78–91. https://so06.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/jber/article/view/248697
Baron, R. M., & Kenny, D. A. (1986). The moderator–mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: Conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51(6), 1173–1182. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.51.6.1173
Carroll, A. B. (1979). A three-dimensional model of corporate performance. Academy of Management Review, 4(4), 497–505. https://doi.org/10.2307/257850
Chalothorn, N., & Rangkokulnuwat, P. (2021). The relationship between cash flow and profitability of companies in the information and communication technology sector listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand, 2009–2019. In Proceedings of the 22nd National Graduate Research Conference (pp. 774–784). Khon Kaen University.
Dechow, P. M. (1994). Accounting earnings and cash flows as measures of firm performance: The role of accounting accruals. Journal of Accounting and Economics, 18(1), 3–42. https://doi.org/10.1016/0165-4101(94)90016-7
Donaldson, L., & Davis, J. H. (1991). Stewardship theory or agency theory: CEO governance and shareholder returns. Australian Journal of Management, 16(1), 49–64. https://doi.org/10.1177/031289629101600103
Ekwunife, E. N., & Okoro, E. C. (2022). Effect of cash flow on corporate sustainability in Nigeria and Ghana. International Journal of Innovative Finance and Economics Research, 10(3), 17–31.
Fernández-Gago, R., Cabeza-García, L., & Nieto, M. (2016). Corporate social responsibility, board of directors, and firm performance: An analysis of their relationships. Review of Managerial Science, 10(1), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11846-014-0141-9
Freeman, R. E. (1984). Strategic management: A stakeholder approach. Pitman.
Hair, J. F., Jr., Anderson, R. E., Tatham, R. L., & Black, W. C. (1995). Multivariate data analysis. Macmillan.
Hamdi, K., Guenich, H., & Ben Saada, M. (2022). Does corporate financial performance promote ESG? Evidence from US firms. Cogent Business & Management, 9(1), Article 2154053. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2022.2154053
Jassim, A., Dexter, C. R., & Sidhu, A. (1988). Agency theory: Implications for financial management. Managerial Finance, 14(4), 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb013600
Jensen, M. C., & Meckling, W. H. (1976). Theory of the firm: Managerial behavior, agency costs and ownership structure. Journal of Financial Economics, 3(4), 305–360.
Koundouri, P., Pittis, N., & Plataniotis, A. (2022). The impact of ESG performance on financial performance of European companies: An empirical examination. Environmental Sciences Proceedings, 15(1), Article 13. https://doi.org/10.3390/environsciproc2022015013
Matakanye, R., Van der Poll, B., & Muchara, B. (2021). Do companies in different industries respond differently to stakeholders' pressures when prioritizing environmental, social, and governance sustainability performance? Sustainability, 13(21), Article 12022. https://doi.org/10.3390/su132112022
MSCI ESG Research LLC. (2020). Swipe to invest: The story behind millennials and ESG investing. Retrieved July 3, 2023, from https://www.msci.com/documents/10199/07e7a7d3-59c3-4d0b-b0b5-029e8fd3974b
National Innovation Agency (NIA). (2022). ESG: Sustainable concepts organizations should use as tools or just follow trends. Retrieved January 25, 2023, from https://www.nia.or.th/ESG-sustainability-concepts-or-trends
Perez-de Toledo, E., & Bocatto, E. (2016). Valuation of ESG factors: The moderating effect of cash holdings. In International Workshop on Financial System Architecture & Stability (IWFSAS). Retrieved July 3, 2023, from https://iwfsas.org/iwfsas2019/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/S1_P3.pdf
Piyaautsadarat, S. (2020). A study of the relationship between ESG performance and financial performance in sensitive industries: A case study of European Union member companies (Master’s thesis, Mahidol University, Thailand).
Refinitiv. (2023). Environmental, social and governance scores from Refinitiv. Retrieved July 7, 2023, from https://www.refinitiv.com/content/dam/marketing/en_us/documents/methodology/refinitiv-esg-scores-methodology.pdf
Srichanpetch, S. (2008). Theory of corporate governance. Journal of Business Administration, 31(120), 1–4.
Tarawneh, A., Tayeh, M., Iskandrani, M. M., & Obeidat, M. H. (2024). The impact of ESG scores on corporate financial performance: A study of non-financial firms listed in the UK. Asian Economic and Financial Review, 14(11), 852–867. https://doi.org/10.55493/5002.v14i11.5229
Thailand Federation of Accounting Professions. (2019). Accounting standard no. 7: Cash flow statements. Retrieved July 3, 2023, from https://www.tfac.or.th/upload/9414/OTtYqnyEg8.pdf
The Stock Exchange of Thailand. (2022). Sustainable investment. Retrieved June 21, 2023, from http://setsustainability.com/page/sustainable-investment
The Stock Exchange of Thailand. (2023). SET ESG ratings. Retrieved June 21, 2023, from https://setsustainability.com/libraries/1258/item/set-esg-ratings
Weng, H., & Kingston, G. (2014). Agency theory and financial planning practice. Australian Economic Review, 47(3), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8462.12053
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Srinakharinwirot Business Journal

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
ลิขสิทธิ์ของบทความที่ได้รับการตีพิมพ์ในารสารบริหารธุรกิจศรีนครินทรวิโรฒ เป็นของวารสาร โดยผู้เขียนยินยอมโอนสิทธิ์ในการเผยแพร่และจัดพิมพ์บทความให้แก่วารสาร เมื่อบทความได้รับการตอบรับเพื่อตีพิมพ์ วารสารมีสิทธิ์ในการจัดพิมพ์ เผยแพร่ และจัดเก็บบทความในรูปแบบสิ่งพิมพ์และสื่ออิเล็กทรอนิกส์
ทางวารสารอนุญาตให้นำเนื้อหาไปใช้เพื่อประโยชน์ทางการศึกษาและการวิจัยที่ไม่แสวงหากำไรได้ โดยต้องอ้างอิงแหล่งที่มาอย่างถูกต้องครบถ้วน การนำไปใช้ ดัดแปลง เผยแพร่ซ้ำ หรือใช้ในเชิงพหาณิชย์ ต้องได้รับอนุญาตเป็นลายลักษณ์อักษรจากวารสารก่อน