Journal of Applied Corporate Finance

Most discussions of corporate financing policy focus on long-term liabilities such as common stock, preferred stock, debentures, loans, and leases. Yet trade credit—credit extended by a seller who allows delayed payment for its products—represents a substantial component of both corporate Most discussions of corporate financing policy focus on long-term liabilities such as common stock, preferred stock, debentures, loans, and leases. Yet trade credit—credit extended by a seller who allows delayed payment for its products—represents a substantial component of both corporate liabilities and assets, especially in the case of middle-market companies. For the 3,350 non-financial Nasdaq firms covered by COMPUSTAT, accounts receivable amounted to 19% of corporate assets, and accounts payable were 26% of corporate liabilities, at the end of 1992. Trade credit thus represents both a material use of corporate resources and an important source of funds. more