Ratio Analysis for Financial Decision-Making
Ratio Analysis for Financial Decision-Making
STUDY SESSION 4
Liquidity Position
Long-term Solvency
Operating Efficiency:
Overall Profitability:
Inter-firm Comparison
Financial Ratios for Budgeting
Sources of Financial Data for Analysis
The sources of information for financial statement analysis are:
(i) Annual Reports
(ii) Interim financial statements
(iii) Notes to Accounts
(iv) Statement of cash flows
(v) Business periodicals.
(vi) Credit and investment advisory services
4.2
Financial Analysis & Planning – Ratio Analysis
4.3
1. Liquidity Ratios
The terms ‘liquidity’ and ‘short-term solvency’ are used synonymously.
Liquidity or short-term solvency means ability of the business to pay its short-term liabilities.
Inability to pay-off short-term liabilities affects its credibility as well as its credit rating.
Continuous default on the part of the business leads to commercial bankruptcy.
Short-term lenders and creditors of a business are very much interested to know its state of
a) Current Ratio: The Current Ratio is one of the best known measures of short term
solvency. It is the most common measure of short-term liquidity.
𝑪𝒖𝒓𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝑨𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒕𝒔
Current Ratio=
𝑪𝒖𝒓𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝑳𝒊𝒂𝒃𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒔
Where,
Current Assets Current Liabilities
Inventories Creditors for goods and services
+ Sundry Debtors + Short-term Loans
+ Cash and Bank Balances +Bank Overdraft
+ Receivables/ Accruals + Cash Credit
+ Loans and Advances + Outstanding Expenses
+ Disposable Investments + Provision for Taxation
+ Prepaid Expenses + Proposed Dividend
+ Marketable Securities + Unclaimed Dividend
+ Any other current assets. + Any other current liabilities.
Interpretation
A generally acceptable current ratio is 2 to 1. But whether or not a specific ratio is
satisfactory depends on the nature of the business and the characteristics of its current
assets and liabilities.
b) Quick Ratios: The Quick Ratio is sometimes called the “acid-test” ratio and is one of the
best measures of liquidity.
𝑸𝒖𝒊𝒄𝒌 𝑨𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒕𝒔
Quick Ratio=
𝑪𝒖𝒓𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝑳𝒊𝒂𝒃𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒔
Where,
Quick Assets = Current Assets - Inventories – Prepaid Expenses
Current Liabilities = As mentioned under Current Ratio.
4.4
The Quick Ratio is a much more conservative measure of short-term liquidity than the
Current Ratio.
Quick Assets consist of only cash and near cash assets. Inventories are deducted from
current assets on the belief that these are not ‘near cash assets’
Interpretation
An acid-test of 1:1 is considered satisfactory unless the majority of “quick assets” are in
accounts receivable, and the pattern of accounts receivable collection lags behind the
Financial Analysis & Planning – Ratio Analysis
c) Cash Ratio/ Absolute Liquidity Ratio: The cash ratio measures the absolute liquidity of
the business. This ratio considers only the absolute liquidity available with the firm.
e) Net Working Capital Ratio: Net working capital is more a measure of cash flow than a
ratio. The result of this calculation must be a positive number.
Net Working Capital Ratio = Current Assets – Current Liabilities
2. Long-term Solvency Ratio /Leverage Ratio
The leverage ratios may be defined as those financial ratios which measure the long term
stability and structure of the firm. These ratios indicate the mix of funds provided by owners
and lenders and assure the lenders of the long term funds with regard to:
(i) Periodic payment of interest and
(ii) Repayment of principal amount
4.5
𝑺𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝑬𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒕𝒚
Equity Ratio =
𝑪𝒂𝒑𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝑬𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒐𝒚𝒆𝒅
b) Debt Ratio: It shows the proportion of interest bearing debt in the capital structure.
𝑻𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝑫𝒆𝒃𝒕
Debt Ratio =
𝑻𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝑫𝒆𝒃𝒕 𝑵𝒆𝒕 𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒉
OR
𝑻𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝑫𝒆𝒃𝒕
Debt Ratio =
𝑵𝒆𝒕 𝑨𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒕𝒔
𝑻𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝑫𝒆𝒃𝒕
Debt to Equity Ratio =
𝑺𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝑬𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒕𝒚
𝑻𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝑫𝒆𝒃𝒕
Debt to Total Asset Ratio =
𝑻𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝑨𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒕𝒔
e) Capital Gearing Ratio: Capital gearing ratio shows the proportion of fixed interest
(dividend) bearing capital to funds belonging to equity shareholders i.e. equity funds or
net worth.
f) Proprietary Ratio:
𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝑭𝒖𝒏𝒅
Proprietary Ratio =
𝑻𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝑨𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒕𝒔
𝑬𝑩𝑰𝑻
Interest Coverage Ratio =
𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕
Interpretation
This ratio indicates margin of safety available to the preference shareholders. A higher
ratio is desirable from preference shareholders point of view.
c) Equity Dividend Coverage Ratio: It can also be calculated taking (EAT – Pref.
Dividend) and equity fund figures into consideration.
d) Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR): Lenders are interested in debt service coverage
to judge the firm’s ability to pay off current interest and instalments.
𝑬𝑩𝑰𝑻 𝑫𝒆𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏
Fixed Charges Coverage Ratio = 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐲𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐨𝐚𝐧
𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕 (𝟏 𝒕𝒂𝒙 𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆)
These ratios are usually calculated with reference to sales/cost of goods sold and are expressed
in terms of rate or times.
a) Total Asset Turnover Ratio: This ratio measures the efficiency with which the firm uses
its total assets.
b) Fixed Assets Turnover Ratio: It measures the efficiency with which the firm uses its fixed
assets.
Interpretation
A high fixed assets turnover ratio indicates efficient utilisation of fixed assets in generating
sales. A firm whose plant and machinery are old may show a higher fixed assets turnover
ratio than the firm which has purchased them recently.
Interpretation
This ratio indicates the firm’s ability of generating sales/ Cost of Goods Sold per rupee of
long term investment. The higher the ratio, the more efficient is the utilisation of owner’s
and long-term creditors’ funds.
Net Assets includes Net Fixed Assets and Net Current Assets (Current Assets – Current
Liabilities). Since Net Assets equals to capital employed it is also known as Capital
Turnover Ratio.
Note: Average of Total Assets/ Fixed Assets/ Current Assets/ Net Assets/ Working Capital/
also can be taken.
Working Capital Turnover is further segregated into Inventory Turnover, Debtors
Turnover, and Creditors Turnover.
(i) Inventory/ Stock Turnover Ratio: This ratio also known as stock turnover ratio
establishes the relationship between the cost of goods sold during the year and average
inventory held during the year. It measures the efficiency with which a firm utilizes or
manages its inventory.
In the case of inventory of raw material the inventory turnover ratio is calculated using the
following formula :
𝑪𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏
Work-in-progress Inventory Turnover Ratio =
𝑨𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒌 𝒊𝒏 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒊𝒏𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚
4.10
Interpretation
This ratio indicates that how fast inventory is used or sold. A high ratio is good from the
view point of liquidity and vice versa. A low ratio would indicate that inventory is not used/
sold/ lost and stays in a shelf or in the warehouse for a long time.
(ii) Receivables (Debtors) Turnover Ratio: In case firm sells goods on credit, the realization
of sales revenue is delayed and the receivables are created. The cash is realised from these
receivables later on.
Financial Analysis & Planning – Ratio Analysis
The speed with which these receivables are collected affects the liquidity position of the
firm. The debtor’s turnover ratio throws light on the collection and credit policies of the
firm. It measures the efficiency with which management is managing its accounts
receivables. It is calculated as follows:
𝑪𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒕 𝑺𝒂𝒍𝒆𝒔
Debtors Turnover Ratio(DTR) =
𝑨𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝑨𝒄𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒐𝒓 𝑨𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝑫𝒆𝒃𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒔
Receivables (Debtors’) Velocity: Debtors’ turnover ratio indicates the average collection
period. However, the average collection period can be directly calculated as follows:
𝑨𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝑫𝒆𝒃𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒔
Receivable Velocity / Average Collection Period = × 𝟑𝟔𝟎
𝑪𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒕 𝑺𝒂𝒍𝒆𝒔
𝑨𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝑫𝒆𝒃𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒔 𝟏𝟐 𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒉𝒔/𝟓𝟐 𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒌𝒔/ 𝟑𝟔𝟎 𝒅𝒂𝒚𝒔
OR 𝐎𝐑
𝑨𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝑫𝒂𝒊𝒍𝒚 𝑪𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒕 𝑺𝒂𝒍𝒆𝒔 𝑫𝒆𝒃𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒔 𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐
𝑪𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒕 𝑺𝒂𝒍𝒆𝒔
Average Daily Credit Sales =
𝑵𝒐.𝒐𝒇 𝒅𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒂 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓 (𝒔𝒂𝒚 𝟑𝟔𝟎)
Interpretation
The average collection period measures the average number of days it takes to collect an
account receivable. This ratio is also referred to as the number of days of receivable and
the number of day’s sales in receivables.
(iii) Payables / Creditors Turnover Ratio: This ratio is calculated on the same lines as
receivable turnover ratio is calculated. This ratio shows the velocity of payables payment
by the firm. It is calculated as follows:
A low creditor’s turnover ratio reflects liberal credit terms granted by supplies. While a high
ratio shows that accounts are settled rapidly.
Interpretation
The firm can compare what credit period it receives from the suppliers and what it offers
to the customers. Also it can compare the average credit period offered to the customers
in the industry to which it belongs.
The above three ratios i.e. Inventory Turnover Ratio/ Receivables Turnover Ratio/Payable
Turnover Ratio / is also relevant to examine liquidity of an organization.
𝑮𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒔 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒇𝒊𝒕
Gross Profit Ratio = × 𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝑺𝒂𝒍𝒆𝒔
Interpretation
Net Profit ratio finds the proportion of sales that finds its way into profits. A high net profit
ratio will ensure positive returns of the business.
4.12
Where,
Operating Profit = Sales – Operating Cost
Financial Analysis & Planning – Ratio Analysis
𝑪𝑶𝑮𝑺
(i) Cost of Good Sold (COGS) Ratio = 𝑺𝒂𝒍𝒆𝒔 × 𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝑬𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒆𝒔
(iii) Financial Expense Ratio = 𝑺𝒂𝒍𝒆𝒔
× 𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝑹𝒆𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒏 /𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒇𝒊𝒕/𝑬𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔
Return on Investment (ROI) = × 𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝑰𝒏𝒗𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔
The concept of investment varies and accordingly there are three broad
categories of ROI i.e.
(i) Return on Assets (ROA),
(ii) Return on Capital Employed (ROCE) and
(iii) Return on Equity (ROE).
(i) Return on Assets (ROA): The profitability ratio is measured in terms of relationship
between net profits and assets employed to earn that profit. This ratio measures the
profitability of the firm in terms of assets employed in the firm. Based on various
concepts of net profit (return) and assets the ROA may be measured as follows:
Here net profit is exclusive of interest. As Assets are also financed by lenders, hence
ROA can be calculated as:
𝑬𝑩𝑰𝑻 (𝟏 𝑻𝒂𝒙)
ROTA (Return on Total Assets) = × 𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝑨𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒕𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒕𝒔
Where,
Capital Employed = Total Assets – Current Liabilities, or
= Fixed Assets + Working Capital
ROCE should always be higher than the rate at which the company borrows.
Intangible assets (assets which have no physical existence like goodwill, patents and
trade-marks) should be included in the capital employed. But no fictitious asset
should be included within capital employed. If information is available then average
capital employed shall be taken.
(iii) Return on Equity (ROE): Return on Equity measures the profitability of equity funds
invested in the firm. This ratio reveals how profitably of the owners’ funds have been
utilised by the firm. It also measures the percentage return generated to equity
shareholders. This ratio is computed as:
Return on equity is one of the most important indicators of a firm’s profitability and
potential growth.
Many investors fail to realize, however, that two companies can have the same return
on equity, yet one can be a much better business.
𝑺𝒂𝒍𝒆𝒔
Total Asset Turnover Ratio =
𝑻𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝑨𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒕𝒔
The asset turnover ratio tends to be inversely related to the net profit margin; i.e.,
the higher the net profit margin, the lower the asset turnover. The result is that the
investor can compare companies using different models (low-profit, high-volume vs.
high-profit, low-volume) and determine which one is the more attractive business.
Financial Analysis & Planning – Ratio Analysis
(iii) Equity Multiplier: It is possible for a company with terrible sales and margins to
take on excessive debt and artificially increase its return on equity. The equity
multiplier, a measure of financial leverage, allows the investor to see what portion
of the return on equity is the result of debt. The equity multiplier is calculated as
follows:
𝑻𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝑨𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒕𝒔
Equity Multiplier =
𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐬 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐲
a) Earnings per Share (EPS): The profitability of a firm from the point of view of ordinary
shareholders can be measured in terms of number of equity shares. This is known as
Earnings per share. It is calculated as follows:
b) Dividend per Share (DPS): Dividend per share ratio indicates the amount of profit
distributed to equity shareholders per share. It is calculated as:
c) Dividend Payout Ratio (DP): This ratio measures the dividend paid in relation to net
earnings. It is determined to see to how much extent earnings per share have been
retained by the management for the business. It is computed as:
Interpretation
This ratio indicates return on investment. Yield (%) is the indicator of true return in which
share capital is taken at its market value.
c) Market Value to Book Value Ratio (MVBV): It provides evaluation of how investors
view the company’s past and future performance
Interpretation
This ratio indicates market response of the shareholders’ investment. Undoubtedly,
higher the ratios better is the shareholders’ position in terms of return and capital gains.
d) Q Ratio: This ratio is proposed by James Tobin, a ratio is defined as