Investigating and Comparing the Performance of Conventional and Hybrid Models of Predicting Financial Distress

Financial distress, which is defined as the uncertainty about the company's ability to meet its obligations and repay its debts, has been estimated by different models divided into three groups of fundamental models (based on accounting or financial data), structural models (based on the company's capital structure or market information) and hybrid models.  Accurately predicting financial distress is still a major point of challenge for financial researchers. Scholars acknowledge that financial distress will be experienced when it happens. Therefore, the best thing to do is to initially estimate the probability of a company's financial distress. In this regard, in the current study, first, a hybrid model was presented to investigate the ability of financial distress prediction models. Next, in order to compare the hybrid model with accounting-based models, the second version of Altman's Z model known as the Z˝ model was used. To compare the hybrid model with market-based models, Merton's model was used in three groups including healthy, distressing, and distressed companies.

In this research, by reviewing past studies, 47 variables affecting financial distress, such as accounting variables, market variables, and macroeconomic indicators were identified. Afterward, considering the frequency and successful performance of these variables in past studies, 19 variables were selected. In the next step, using the Stepwise regression test, among the 19 variables, 10 variables with probability values ​​smaller than 0.05 were chosen. Also, to determine the dependent variable, the European option pricing model (Merton's model) was used. Finally, by the use of the Multinomial logit model and identifying the relationship between the dependent and independent variables, the hybrid model for predicting financial distress was designed. In order to compare the produced hybrid model with accounting-based fundamental models, the second version of Altman's Z model known as the Z˝ model was used. To compare the hybrid model with market-based structural models, Merton's model was used. Moreover, in order to test the ability of financial distress prediction models, a sample including 100 companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE) or Iran FaraBourse (IFB) was selected. Then, considering the defined criteria, these companies were divided into three groups consisting of healthy, distressing, and distressed companies. Finally, the ability of the above-mentioned models in predicting financial distress was investigated.

Research findings indicated that in the hybrid model, the ratios of Net Working Capital to Total Assets (WCTA), Operating Cash Flow to Total Assets (OCTA), Sales to Total Assets (STA), Net Income to Total Assets (NITA), Short-term and Long-term Debts to Equity (TLTE), Price to Earnings Per Share (P/E) and Price to Sales (P/S), and the variable of Interest Rate (INT) had significant relations with company's financial distress probability. Also, a comparison of the hybrid model and conventional models revealed that in the group of financially distressed companies, respectively, the Z˝ model with 100% accuracy, Merton's model with 85% accuracy, and the hybrid model with 90% accuracy had correctly predicted the financial situation of the companies. While, in the group of financially distressing companies, the accuracy of the Z˝ model, Merton's model, and the hybrid model in predicting the financial situation of the companies, stood at 50%, 85%, and 85%, respectively. In addition, in the group of healthy companies, these models were able to correctly predict 95%, 85%, and 90% of the companies' financial situation, respectively.

According to achieved results, the Z˝ model has higher predictive power on healthy and distressed companies, compared to the hybrid and Merton models. While, the hybrid and Merton models are better at predicting the financial situation of distressing companies than the Z˝ model. Therefore, considering that the performance of the market-based model of Merton in predicting the financial situation of the companies is weaker than those of the Z˝ and that the hybrid models which are mainly formed by financial or accounting ratios, and also in regard to the findings of past studies which proved the inefficiency of the stock market in Iran, it can be concluded that it is better to use accounting variables in future research in the field of predicting financial distress.