Cash holdings is one of the most important fi gures of every firm`s balance sheet. There are
three theoretical models to explain firm characteristics influence cash holdings decisions.
First, the Trade-off Theory (TOT) postulates th at firms identify their optimal level of cash
holdings by weighting the marginal costs and marg inal benefits of holding cash. The benefits
related to cash holdings are the following: redu ces the likelihood of financial distress, allows
the pursuance of investment policy when financial constraints are met, and minimizes the
costs of raising external funds or liquidating existing assets. The main cost of holding cash is
the opportunity cost of the capital invested in liquid assets. Second, the pecking order theory
(POT) of Myers (1984), states that to minimize asymmetric information costs and other
financing costs, firms should fina nce investments first with retained earnings, then with safe
debt and risky debt, and finally with equity. This theory suggests that firms do not have target
cash levels, but cash is used as a buffer between retained earnings and investment needs.
Finally, the free cash flow (FCF) theory of Jensen (1986) suggests that managers have an
incentive to build up cash to increase the am ount of assets under their control and to gain
discretionary power over the firm investment decision. Cash reduces the pressure to perform
well and allows managers to invest in projects th at best suit their own interests, but may not
be in the shareholders best interest (Ferreira a nd Vilela, 2004).