Main Article Content
Abstract
This study aims to analyze the effect of Liquidity and Leverage on Stock Returns with Profitability as an intervening variable. The objects of the study were LQ45 Index companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) during the 2020– 2024 period. The method used was a quantitative approach with panel data regression analysis. The variables used included Liquidity (proxied by the Current Ratio) and Leverage (proxied by the Debt to Equity Ratio) as independent variables, Profitability (proxied by Return on Assets) as a mediating variable, and Stock Returns as the dependent variable. The results showed that Liquidity and Leverage had no significant effect on Stock Returns, while Profitability had a significant direct effect on Stock Returns. Furthermore, Liquidity had no significant effect on Profitability, but Leverage had a significant direct effect on Profitability. The mediation test using the Sobel test showed that Profitability did not significantly mediate the relationship between Liquidity and Stock Returns or between Leverage and Stock Returns. Management must prioritize strategies that can increase net profit and asset utilization efficiency. Increased profits will be directly reflected in share prices, benefiting investors and increasing stock returns.
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References
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References
Adam, N., Zahirah, N., Sidek, M., & Duo, N. (2025). Calendar anomalies and their impact on selected GCC stock market returns. Finance Research Open, 1(4), 100049. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.finr.2025.100049
Aspris, A., & Svec, J. (2025). Locked in , levered up : Risk , return , and ruin in DeFi lending ☆. The British Accounting Review, June 2024, 101691. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bar.2025.101691
Barros, V., & Gonçalves, T. C. (2025). Stock liquidity and price ‑ to ‑ book discounts : non ‑ linear evidence from European ‑ listed firms. Finance Research Letters, 86(PE), 108750. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.frl.2025.108750
Cantore, C. (2025). Monetary – fiscal interaction and the liquidity of government debt ✩. European Economic Review, 173, 104979. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroecorev.2025.104979
Chen, L., Dai, S., & Wang, Z. (2025). The capital market effects of local government green special Bonds : An examination from the perspective of corporate stock liquidity. 102(September 2024).
Doshchyn, A. (2025). Sinking ships : Liquidity constraints and return predictability in. Journal of Monetary Economics, 151, 103746. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmoneco.2025.103746
Farag, H., Luo, D., Yarovaya, L., & Zieba, D. (2025). Returns from liquidity provision in cryptocurrency markets $. Journal of Banking and Finance, 175(November 2022), 107411. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbankfin.2025.107411
Financial, I. (2024). IDN Financial. https://www.idnfinancials.com/
Fujitani, R., Iwata, K., & Yasuda, Y. (2025). How does stock liquidity affect corporate cash holdings in Japan ?: A pre-registered study. xxxx.
Gao, Y., Zhou, Y., & Zhao, W. (2025). Liquidity spillover and investment strategy construction among Chinese green financial markets. International Review of Economics and Finance, 98(May 2024), 103843. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iref.2025.103843
Garcia, J. (2025). The power of attention : examining the roles of institutional investor and macroeconomic news attention in shaping share liquidity. Global Finance Journal, 67(February), 101160. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gfj.2025.101160
Goyal, A., Reed, A. V, Smajlbegovic, E., & Soebhag, A. (2025). Stealthy shorts : Informed liquidity supply $. Journal of Financial Economics, 172(August), 104155. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfineco.2025.104155
IDX. (2025). Indonesia Stock Exchange. https://www.idx.co.id/id
IDXbroker. (2025). IDXBroker. https://www.idxbroker.com/pageNotFound.php?broken=www.idx.co.id
Jiao, F., Sarkissian, S., & Schumacher, D. (2025). Liquidity picking and fund performance. Journal of Financial Economics, 170(May), 104085. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfineco.2025.104085
Jin, Y., Wei, S., & Xu, J. (2025). Share pledging and stock price synchronicity : Evidence from China. Emerging Markets Review, 65(April 2023), 101258. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ememar.2025.101258
Kedar-levy, H., Kim, J., & Yoo, S. S. (2025). Journal of International Financial Markets , Predictable liquidity properties in a Segmented , inelastic. Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions & Money, 103(May), 102181. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intfin.2025.102181
Li, D., Lu, L., Qi, Z., & Zhou, G. (2025). International corporate bond returns : Uncovering predictability using machine learning. xxxx.
Li, Y., Li, Z., & Wang, B. (2025). The macroeconomic effects of money demand and capital liquidity : A financial accelerator perspective $. International Review of Economics and Finance, 104(September), 104638. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iref.2025.104638
Lin, W., Yu, H., & Wang, L. (2025). A data-driven deep learning approach incorporating investor sentiment and government interventions to predict post-crash stock return in China ’ s A-share market. Journal of Innovation & Knowledge, 10(3), 100704. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jik.2025.100704
Mi, M. X., & Masih, R. (2025). How resilient are PE / VC returns to real shocks ? $. Global Finance Journal, 68(September), 101206. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gfj.2025.101206
Nguyen, V. H., & Dang, T. L. (2025). Corporate social responsibility and stock liquidity across. International Review of Economics and Finance, 101(May), 104182. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iref.2025.104182
Tu, W., Min, A., & Borthwick, S. (2025). Digital tax administration , investor risk perception , and stock return volatility. International Review of Economics and Finance, 103(May), 104434. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iref.2025.104434
Urusov, A. (2025). Blockchain : Research and Applications Backtesting framework for concentrated liquidity market makers on Uniswap V3 decentralized exchange. Blockchain: Research and Applications, 6(1), 100256. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bcra.2024.100256
Zhang, X., Sun, X., & Gao, Y. (2025). Borsa Istanbul Review Corporate sustainable development : ESG rating divergence and stock liquidity in China. Borsa Istanbul Review, 25(4), 746–755. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bir.2025.04.002
Zhang, X., Wu, J., Yao, J., & Yu, C. (2025). Employee incentive and stock liquidity : Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment in China. International Review of Economics and Finance, 104(September), 104674. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iref.2025.104674
Zhu, B., Zhang, Y., Li, X., & Hu, X. (2025). Systemic risk spillovers of nonfinancial firms : Does bank liquidity hoarding matter ? Evidence from China. International Review of Economics and Finance, 103(March 2023), 104513. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iref.2025.104513
Zhu, Q., Han, C., & Li, Y. (2025). Dual-market quantitative trading : the dynamics of liquidity and turnover in fi nancial markets. Data Science and Management, 8(1), 48–58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsm.2024.07.003