Second, given that industry classification is a significant factor in the determination of cash holdings, we also create an industry-adjusted measure of the firm’s cash to sales ratio (cash holdings). To do this, we compute the median levels of the ratio of cash to sales within the Fama and French 48 industry categories (described below). The industry-adjusted measure is then calculated as the firm’s variable minus the median industry level of the cash to sales ratio. Using either
measure, we find similar results to those reported using the cash to sales ratio.