Quick Ratio Archives | Value Investing - Business and Economic Principles

Quick Ratio

The text book definition of the quick ratio is current assets less inventory, divided by current liabilities. The quick ratio is an ineffective tool for the small business using this definition. The small business owner should use cash divided by current liabilities less current portion of long term debt. It is strictly designed to define the ability to pay your bills right now.

Liquidity Ratios

Business Ratios / By David J Hoare MSA / 11/17/2018 03/03/2022

Liquidity ratios are a group of ratios used to measure the ability of a business operation to meets its current obligations. Liquidity ratios are similar to the initial medical tests a patient receives at a doctor’s visit. Doctors take blood pressure, temperature, and pulse rate. The doctor wants assurance that the primary indicators of health are good. Liquidity ratios are exactly the same. The user wants to know that the basic measurements of a business indicate good health today.

Insolvency – Detection

Phase II - Financial Analysis / By David J Hoare MSA / 10/30/2018 02/24/2022

Insolvency refers to the ability to pay bills in a timely manner. It does not mean bankruptcy but long-term insolvency is a underlying factor of bankruptcy. Many owners and/or managers of small business have no idea of how to determine if the company is insolvent or headed towards the inability to meet their day to day obligations.

Operating Cash Ratio – Formula and Understanding

Business Ratios / By David J Hoare MSA / 01/06/2018 03/03/2022

Far and above the most valuable liquidity ratio is the operating cash ratio. Unlike the other liquidity ratios that are balance sheet derived, the operating cash ratio is more closely connected to activity (income statement based) ratios than the balance sheet.

Current Ratio

Business Ratios / By David J Hoare MSA / 02/22/2017 03/03/2022

The current ratio is an inappropriate relationship to use or rely on in small business. The ratio is best suited for large publicly traded organizations. This article explains the basic formula for the current ratio, how to identify the ratio in reading financial statements, its purpose and the many drawbacks for its use with small business.

Working Capital Cycle

Finance / By David J Hoare MSA / 02/13/2017 02/24/2022

The college textbook definition of working capital is current assets minus payables and accrued expenses. The term explains the dollar value of flexibility a business operation has to take advantage of immediate opportunities or endure sudden or long-term setbacks. Since it is a balance sheet based formula the value is a function of a moment in time.

EBITDA – Drawbacks

Marginal Value / By David J Hoare MSA / 02/13/2017 02/28/2022

There are several business financial attributes required for EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization) to work well as a basis for the multiple of earnings method (the method used with the Market Comparable Valuation Approach); see Fair Market Value for a better understanding of the three primary business valuation approaches.

Working Capital Management – Fundamentals

Finance / By David J Hoare MSA / 01/01/2016 02/24/2022

Working capital management is a function of finance whereby management ensures adequate cash is available to meet operational needs over the typical working capital cycle. The underlying elements of working capital management include 1) understanding the different forms of current assets and current liabilities and their corresponding cash cycles; 2) recognizing the relationships of production and sales flow; and 3) planning the inflows and uses (outflows) of cash.

Insolvency and Bankruptcy – Know the Difference

Finance / By David J Hoare MSA / 02/01/2014 02/24/2022

Every business owner needs to know the difference between insolvency and bankruptcy. Often these two terms are misunderstood and improperly used in conversation. You need to know their correct meaning because both are used in civil law and both have different issues to address during the process. In addition, understanding these two terms builds a better comprehensive understanding of financing your business.

Quick Ratio – Definition, Explanation and Proper Use

Business Ratios / By David J Hoare MSA / 01/14/2014 03/03/2022

The quick ratio is a formula used in business to identify the ability of a business to pay its current liabilities. It is also known as the ‘Acid Test’ formula (ratio). In the large markets this formula is one of the financial industry ratios used to value the stock of a corporation. In the arena of the small business, you should only use this ratio as a means to gauge ability to pay your bills right now.