As configurações ou caminhos alternativos que levam a alta margem de lucro das empresas de TICS entre 2016 e 2024

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the profit margin of companies in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector in the financial performance of ICT companies in the years 2016 and 2024, seeking to identify the configurations of factors that contribute to financial success in this sector. The methodology used consists of Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA), specifically the fuzzy-set QCA (fsQCA) version, representing different degrees of membership to a set and, consequently, allowing the analysis of combinations of causal conditions and their effects on the outcome. The database used comprises financial information from ICT sector companies listed as the largest in Brazil in 2016 and 2024. The analysis focuses on relating profit margin to five main factors: return on equity, current liquidity, debt to equity, return on investment, and asset turnover. These indicators are selected for their relevance in assessing the financial performance of companies, allowing for a comprehensive profile of the financial health of the companies analyzed. The conclusive results reveal that financial success in the ICT sector does not depend on a single financial index, but rather on a complex combination of conditions, including profitability, liquidity, debt, return on investment, and asset turnover. The fsQCA analysis made it possible to identify different configurations of factors that lead to a high degree of profit margin, and therefore, high financial performance, highlighting the importance of strategic management of these elements. The study contributes to the literature on the ICT sector in Brazil by providing insights into the factors that drive companies' financial success, emphasizing the importance of multivariate analysis and the consideration of the complexity of causal relationships, demonstrating that financial performance is a multifaceted phenomenon that requires a strategic and integrated approach. Thus, the companies that stood out (obtained high profit margin) were those that managed to combine high profitability with efficient management of return on investment, debt, liquidity, and asset turnover, demonstrating that financial health is a mosaic of different elements.