Skogsentreprenadföretagens lönsamhet
During some time there has been a debate whether or not logging contractors? profitability can be considered poor. The contractors? situation is important for maintaining long term relationships and continuity in the forest industry. A thorough analytic picture is however missing. The goal for the study was to create a tool for evaluating the financial situation for the contractors. The situation was then correlated to plausible underlying reasons for the situation. The financial situation was also compared with similar businesses.
The study was based on financial data for 2005-2007 from logging contractors hired by Sveaskog. The financial data were matched to the results from a survey about underlying factors done in the fall 2007. Nine financial ratios were selected for analysis with the help of literature and interviews with two logging contractors and two financial experts. Through principle component analysis (PCA) the ratios where combined to an indicator value for the financial situation. After validation the indicator values were correlated to survey replies.
PCA was a suitable method to objectively analyse and group the logging contractors in the study after their overall financial situation. However, the indicator value equation created in the study should not be used for general analysis of logging contractors? financial situation, since the method only targets the largest variation in the studied data. Comparison with the actual ratios of the compiled groups with different financial situation should, nevertheless, give good indications on a given logging contractor?s situation.
Contractors with better financial situation were less content with the employer. The reason can be an actual difference in treatment of contractors or that contractors with better financial situation generally are more critical of the employer and has higher demands on the relationship for being content. Forest logging contractors have a slightly less good financial situation than similar businesses.