Description
Introduction to Financial Ratios
Introduction to financial ratios
In our introduction to interpreting financial information we identified five main areas for investigation of accounting information. The use of ratio analysis in each of these areas is introduced below: Profitability Ratios These ratios tell us whether a business is making profits - and if so whether at an acceptable rate. The key ratios are: Ratio Gross Profit Margin Calculation Comments [Gross Profit / This ratio tells us something about the business's ability Revenue] x 100 consistently to control its production costs or to manage the (expressed as a margins its makes on products its buys and sells. Whilst sales percentage value and volumes may move up and down significantly, the gross profit margin is usually quite stable (in percentage terms). However, a small increase (or decrease) in profit margin, however caused can produce a substantial change in overall profits. Operating [Operating Profit / Assuming a constant gross profit margin, the operating profit Profit Revenue] x 100 margin tells us something about a company's ability to Margin (expressed as a control its other operating costs or overheads. percentage) Return on Net profit before tax, ROCE is sometimes referred to as the "primary ratio"; it tells capital interest and dividends us what returns management has made on the resources employed ("EBIT") / total assets made available to them before making any distribution of ("ROCE") (or total assets less those returns. current liabilities Efficiency ratios These ratios give us an insight into how efficiently the business is employing those resources invested in fixed assets and working capital. Ratio Sales /Capital Employed Comments Capital A measure of total asset utilisation. Helps to answer the question - what sales are being generated by each pound's worth of assets invested in the business. Note, when combined with the return on sales (see above) it generates the primary ratio - ROCE. Sales or Sales or profit / Fixed This ratio is about fixed asset capacity. A reducing sales or Profit / Assets profit being generated from each pound invested in fixed Fixed assets may indicate overcapacity or poorer-performing Assets equipment. Stock Cost of Sales / Stock turnover helps answer questions such as "have we got Turnover Average Stock Value too much money tied up in inventory"?. An increasing stock turnover figure or one which is much larger than the "average" for an industry, may indicate poor stock management. Credit (Trade debtors The "debtor days" ratio indicates whether debtors are being Given / (average, if allowed excessive credit. A high figure (more than the "Debtor possible) / (Sales)) x industry average) may suggest general problems with debt Days" 365 collection or the financial position of major customers. Calculation Sales / employed
Credit ((Trade creditors + A similar calculation to that for debtors, giving an insight taken / accruals) / (cost of into whether a business i taking full advantage of trade "Creditor sales + other credit available to it. Days" purchases)) x 365 Liquidity Ratios Liquidity ratios indicate how capable a business is of meeting its short-term obligations as they fall due: Ratio Current Ratio Comments / A simple measure that estimates whether the business can pay debts due within one year from assets that it expects to turn into cash within that year. A ratio of less than one is often a cause for concern, particularly if it persists for any length of time. Quick Ratio Cash and near cash Not all assets can be turned into cash quickly or easily. Some (or "Acid (short-term - notably raw materials and other stocks - must first be Test" investments + trade turned into final product, then sold and the cash collected debtors) from debtors. The Quick Ratio therefore adjusts the Current Ratio to eliminate all assets that are not already in cash (or "near-cash") form. Once again, a ratio of less than one would start to send out danger signals. Stability Ratios These ratios concentrate on the long-term health of a business - particularly the effect of the capital/finance structure on the business: Ratio Gearing Calculation Comments Borrowing (all long- Gearing (otherwise known as "leverage") measures the term debts + normal proportion of assets invested in a business that are financed overdraft) / Net by borrowing. In theory, the higher the level of borrowing Assets (or (gearing) the higher are the risks to a business, since the Shareholders' Funds) payment of interest and repayment of debts are not "optional" in the same way as dividends. However, gearing can be a financially sound part of a business's capital structure particularly if the business has strong, predictable cash flows. Operating profit This measures the ability of the business to "service" its before interest / debt. Are profits sufficient to be able to pay interest and Interest other finance costs? Calculation Current Assets Current Liabilities
Interest cover
Investor Ratios There are several ratios commonly used by investors to assess the performance of a business as an investment: Ratio Calculation Comments Earnings Earnings (profits) A requirement of the London Stock Exchange - an important per share attributable to ratio. EPS measures the overall profit generated for each ("EPS") ordinary shareholders share in existence over a particular period. / Weighted average ordinary shares in issue during the year
PriceMarket price of share At any time, the P/E ratio is an indication of how highly the Earnings / Earnings per Share market "rates" or "values" a business. A P/E ratio is best Ratio ("P/E viewed in the context of a sector or market average to get a Ratio") feel for relative value and stock market pricing. Dividend (Latest dividend per This is known as the "payout ratio". It provides a guide as to Yield ordinary share / the ability of a business to maintain a dividend payment. It current market price also measures the proportion of earnings that are being of share) x 100 retained by the business rather than distributed as dividends.
doc_411075403.pdf
Introduction to Financial Ratios
Introduction to financial ratios
In our introduction to interpreting financial information we identified five main areas for investigation of accounting information. The use of ratio analysis in each of these areas is introduced below: Profitability Ratios These ratios tell us whether a business is making profits - and if so whether at an acceptable rate. The key ratios are: Ratio Gross Profit Margin Calculation Comments [Gross Profit / This ratio tells us something about the business's ability Revenue] x 100 consistently to control its production costs or to manage the (expressed as a margins its makes on products its buys and sells. Whilst sales percentage value and volumes may move up and down significantly, the gross profit margin is usually quite stable (in percentage terms). However, a small increase (or decrease) in profit margin, however caused can produce a substantial change in overall profits. Operating [Operating Profit / Assuming a constant gross profit margin, the operating profit Profit Revenue] x 100 margin tells us something about a company's ability to Margin (expressed as a control its other operating costs or overheads. percentage) Return on Net profit before tax, ROCE is sometimes referred to as the "primary ratio"; it tells capital interest and dividends us what returns management has made on the resources employed ("EBIT") / total assets made available to them before making any distribution of ("ROCE") (or total assets less those returns. current liabilities Efficiency ratios These ratios give us an insight into how efficiently the business is employing those resources invested in fixed assets and working capital. Ratio Sales /Capital Employed Comments Capital A measure of total asset utilisation. Helps to answer the question - what sales are being generated by each pound's worth of assets invested in the business. Note, when combined with the return on sales (see above) it generates the primary ratio - ROCE. Sales or Sales or profit / Fixed This ratio is about fixed asset capacity. A reducing sales or Profit / Assets profit being generated from each pound invested in fixed Fixed assets may indicate overcapacity or poorer-performing Assets equipment. Stock Cost of Sales / Stock turnover helps answer questions such as "have we got Turnover Average Stock Value too much money tied up in inventory"?. An increasing stock turnover figure or one which is much larger than the "average" for an industry, may indicate poor stock management. Credit (Trade debtors The "debtor days" ratio indicates whether debtors are being Given / (average, if allowed excessive credit. A high figure (more than the "Debtor possible) / (Sales)) x industry average) may suggest general problems with debt Days" 365 collection or the financial position of major customers. Calculation Sales / employed
Credit ((Trade creditors + A similar calculation to that for debtors, giving an insight taken / accruals) / (cost of into whether a business i taking full advantage of trade "Creditor sales + other credit available to it. Days" purchases)) x 365 Liquidity Ratios Liquidity ratios indicate how capable a business is of meeting its short-term obligations as they fall due: Ratio Current Ratio Comments / A simple measure that estimates whether the business can pay debts due within one year from assets that it expects to turn into cash within that year. A ratio of less than one is often a cause for concern, particularly if it persists for any length of time. Quick Ratio Cash and near cash Not all assets can be turned into cash quickly or easily. Some (or "Acid (short-term - notably raw materials and other stocks - must first be Test" investments + trade turned into final product, then sold and the cash collected debtors) from debtors. The Quick Ratio therefore adjusts the Current Ratio to eliminate all assets that are not already in cash (or "near-cash") form. Once again, a ratio of less than one would start to send out danger signals. Stability Ratios These ratios concentrate on the long-term health of a business - particularly the effect of the capital/finance structure on the business: Ratio Gearing Calculation Comments Borrowing (all long- Gearing (otherwise known as "leverage") measures the term debts + normal proportion of assets invested in a business that are financed overdraft) / Net by borrowing. In theory, the higher the level of borrowing Assets (or (gearing) the higher are the risks to a business, since the Shareholders' Funds) payment of interest and repayment of debts are not "optional" in the same way as dividends. However, gearing can be a financially sound part of a business's capital structure particularly if the business has strong, predictable cash flows. Operating profit This measures the ability of the business to "service" its before interest / debt. Are profits sufficient to be able to pay interest and Interest other finance costs? Calculation Current Assets Current Liabilities
Interest cover
Investor Ratios There are several ratios commonly used by investors to assess the performance of a business as an investment: Ratio Calculation Comments Earnings Earnings (profits) A requirement of the London Stock Exchange - an important per share attributable to ratio. EPS measures the overall profit generated for each ("EPS") ordinary shareholders share in existence over a particular period. / Weighted average ordinary shares in issue during the year
PriceMarket price of share At any time, the P/E ratio is an indication of how highly the Earnings / Earnings per Share market "rates" or "values" a business. A P/E ratio is best Ratio ("P/E viewed in the context of a sector or market average to get a Ratio") feel for relative value and stock market pricing. Dividend (Latest dividend per This is known as the "payout ratio". It provides a guide as to Yield ordinary share / the ability of a business to maintain a dividend payment. It current market price also measures the proportion of earnings that are being of share) x 100 retained by the business rather than distributed as dividends.
doc_411075403.pdf