Cahyani Nuswandari

This study examines profitability as a mediating variable to explore variables that affect the capital buffer in commercial banks. The research population is conventional commercial banks operating in Indonesia, with an observation period of 2017–2020. A purposive sampling method was used, during which 90 observations were found. Data analysis used multiple regression and the Sobel test to test for the mediating role of profitability. The results show that profitability acts as a mediating variable for non-performing loans and the ratio of loans to deposits in the capital buffer. Therefore, it is suggested that banks must maintain their ability to generate profitability in order to avoid liquidity risk. Another finding that is also important for bank managers is that non-performing loans have a significant effect on reducing profitability, while loans to total assets have a positive impact. Loan-to-deposit ratio and income diversification are not significant to profitability. Profitability, debt-to-total assets ratio, and income diversification have a negative impact on the capital buffer. Non-performing loans are not significant, while the loan-to-deposit ratio has a significant positive impact on the capital buffer.

An independent institution gives appreciation to companies in Indonesia that have published their sustainability reports by ranking their sustainability reports in the Asia Sustainability Reporting Rating. This institution plays a role in facilitating and encouraging companies, organizations and other entities in Indonesia to adopt good sustainability reporting practices. This ranking factor is predicted to influence the movement of abnormal returns so that it can influence value relevance through the earnings response coefficient. The aim of this study is to reveal the relevance of value in order to obtain empirical evidence regarding the influence of sustainability reports, sustainable report ratings and earnings persistence on the earnings response coefficient. The research sample was 130 companies in Indonesia that were included in the Asia Sustainability Reporting Ranking for the period 2019 to 2022. This paper uses a quantitative multiple linear regression method to test the hypothesis. The research results show that consistent profits can be predicted from the past and make a positive contribution to future earnings response. A company transparently discloses its performance in the sustainability aspect, thereby making the profit response more positive. Companies with high sustainability ratings tend to get a more positive profit response from the market and stakeholders. This study suggests that management and company owners in Indonesia are aware of the need to pay attention to long-term sustainability through the publication of sustainability reports to become a company’s commitment to implementing sustainability and minimizing risks arising from the company’s economic, social and environmental activities.

Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank the Directorate of Research, Community Service and Publications (DPPMP) of Stikubank University for supporting the funding of this research. Thanks also to fellow FEB lecturers who have helped provide the facilities needed for this research.