| dc.description.abstract |
The study examines the effect of diversification on the financial performance of private commercial
banks in Ethiopia. The main objective is to investigate how different dimensions of diversification
namely income diversification, asset diversification, loan portfolio diversification and investment
diversification affects financial performance measured by Return on Assets (ROA). The study adopts
a quantitative research approach and employs both descriptive and explanatory research designs.
Secondary data were collected from audited annual reports of ten selected private commercial banks
and official sources covering a ten-year period from 2015 to 2024. A balanced panel dataset was
constructed to enable a comprehensive analysis of the relationship between diversification and
financial performance over time. Descriptive statistics are used to summarize the characteristics and
movements of the variables, while panel data regression techniques including pooled Ordinary Least
Squares (OLS), fixed effects, and random effects models are employed to estimate the relationship
between diversification and financial performance. The Hausman specification test was applied to
select the most appropriate model, and relevant diagnostic tests are conducted to ensure the validity
and reliability of the results. The study finding indicates that diversification has a mixed effect on
financial performance. Income diversification, asset diversification, and investment diversification
shows a positive and significant effect on ROA, while loan portfolio diversification shows a negative
and significant effect on ROA. This suggests that although diversification generally enhances
profitability, its effectiveness depends on the type of diversification and how it is managed. In
conclusion, the study confirms that diversification is a key determinant of financial performance in
Ethiopian private commercial banks, but its impact is not uniform across all dimensions. Based on the
findings, it is recommended that banks should focus on expanding non-interest income sources,
improving asset allocation efficiency, and strengthening investment strategies, while exercising
caution in excessive loan portfolio diversification strategies. |
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