Financial Analysis and Performance Ratios
Financial statements aren't just paperwork—they're powerful tools that reveal a company's health and performance. Accountants, managers, and investors regularly evaluate these statements to make important decisions.
Several key ratios help analyze a company's financial position. The current ratio (current assets ÷ current liabilities) shows if a business can pay its short-term debts. For a more stringent test, the acid test ratio uses only the quickest assets to measure immediate paying ability.
Other important measures include the receivable turnover (how quickly customers pay), gross margin (profit percentage on sales), and profit margin ratio (income as a percentage of sales). These ratios reveal different aspects of business efficiency.
Remember This: The return on investment (ROI) ratio (net income ÷ owner's equity) is especially important as it shows how effectively a company uses investments to generate profit. This is often the bottom-line number investors care about most!