Factors influencing the profitability of manufacturing firms listed on the New York Stock Exchange

The purpose of this study is to assess the factors influencing the profitability of manufacturing firms listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The investigated variables include: firm size, intensity of research and development, growth rate, productivity, age, net asset turnover, leverage ratio, and current ratio. Consequently, the dependent variable is profitability. Data was collected from the ORBIS database on 250 American manufacturing firms for years 2012-2017. The results indicate a positive relationship between investment in research and development, growth rate, employee productivity, leverage ratio, current ratio and the dependent variable: profitability. No statistically significant relationship was found for independent variables firm size and age and profitability. The results also suggest a negative relationship between net asset turnover and profitability.