Do shields drive value? Capital structure as a mediator in Indonesia’s stock market

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A. Sakir, M. Shabri Abd. Majid, Zaida Rizqi Zainul, Maulidar Agustina

2026 Cogent Business and Management Vol. 13 Issue 1 Article Cited by 0 SDG 8SDG 16 Quartile

Abstract

This study investigates how firm-level characteristics shape capital structure (leverage) and firm value in Indonesian manufacturing firms by analyzing 2040 firm-year observations from 136 publicly listed companies over the period 2010–2024. Employing a two-stage panel regression with mediation analysis, the study estimates both direct associations and indirect transmission effects operating through capital structure. The results indicate that debt tax shields, asset tangibility, profitability, receivables and business risk are positively associated with leverage, while leverage itself is strongly associated with higher firm value. Mediation tests reveal that capital structure fully channels the effect of growth and partially transmits the influence of non-debt tax shields, asset tangibility, profitability, business risk and receivables on firm value. In contrast, firm size, uniqueness and inventory are valued directly by the market rather than through leverage decisions. These findings suggest that capital structure in Indonesia functions as a selective transmission mechanism, whereby only certain firm attributes are converted into value through financing choices. By highlighting this selective mediation in an emerging-market setting, the study emphasizes the importance of collateral quality, targeted tax incentives and disciplined credit assessment in supporting sustainable value creation. © 2026 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Affiliations

Department of Management, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Syiah Kuala (USK), Banda Aceh, Indonesia; Department of Economics, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Syiah Kuala (USK), Banda Aceh, Indonesia

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