This paper aims to investigate the impact of leverage on the cost of capital and market value in the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX), where there are Sharīʿah and non-Sharīʿah compliant firms.
This study uses a mixed methods sequential exploratory design and is based on an empirical analysis undertaken with a sample of firms listed on the IDX. In particular, a qualitative analysis was conducted to identify the Sharīʿah-compliant firms and the qualitative study was designed to compare some financial elements in Sharīʿah and non-Sharīʿah compliant listed companies. The correlations among the main elements observed are considered and a principal component analysis describes the framework.
First, the results of the analysis show that for the Sharīʿah-compliant companies, identified as those that apply Islamic principles, the lower level of leverage that it is typical of these type of firms implies a higher cost of capital [cost of equity and weighted average cost of capital (WACC)] than non-Sharīʿah ones. Secondly, for the Sharīʿah-compliant companies, the lower level of leverage entails a higher market value measured by the multiples method (price/earning and enterprise value/operating profit) than for non-Sharīʿah ones.
This paper sheds new light on how leverage can affect the cost of capital and market value in the case of Sharīʿah and non-Sharīʿah compliant listed companies in the IDX. In particular, this research highlights the fact that Sharīʿah-compliant firms, despite having a higher WACC, create more market value compared to non-Sharīʿah compliant ones.
