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Understanding Financial Ratios: How to Use Them to Assess a Company's Financial Health

Updated: Dec 19, 2023


Financial Ratios

As an accounting professional, gaining a comprehensive understanding of a company's financial health is of utmost importance. While revenue and income numbers provide some insights into performance, financial ratios offer a deeper and more holistic view. By comparing key metrics, financial ratios can reveal hidden trends, uncover strengths and weaknesses, and empower you to make informed decisions. Let's explore several essential financial ratios, and their calculations, and discuss how to interpret the results. Armed with this knowledge, you will be able to assess liquidity, profitability, leverage, efficiency, and valuation, ultimately identifying areas of opportunity and risk. Get ready to unlock the secrets to financial analysis and improve your decision-making process.


Liquidity Ratios: Can the Company Pay Its Bills?

  • The current ratio is calculated by dividing current assets by current liabilities. Ideally, a ratio of 2:1 or higher is considered favorable as it indicates that the company possesses sufficient assets to cover its short-term liabilities. However, it's essential to note that a high current ratio without further analysis may also point to excess cash or unproductive assets.

  • The quick ratio focuses on liquid assets like cash and accounts receivable and excludes inventory. A quick ratio of 1:1 or more is generally considered healthy, as it indicates the company's ability to meet its obligations without relying heavily on inventory.

Profitability Ratios: How Well Is the Company Generating Profits?

  • The profit margin is calculated by dividing the company's net income by its revenue. A high-profit margin percentage signifies efficient cost management and indicates that the company generates a healthy profit from each dollar of revenue.

  • Return on assets (ROA) measures how effectively a company utilizes its assets to generate profits and is calculated by dividing net income by total assets. A higher ROA ratio indicates successful asset utilization.

  • Return on equity (ROE) analyzes the return generated per dollar of shareholder equity. A higher ROE ratio suggests that the company efficiently utilizes shareholder investments to generate profits. These profitability ratios shed light on a company's financial performance and potential.

Leverage Ratios: How Much Debt Does the Company Have and what is its ability to meet long-term financial obligations?

  • The debt-to-equity ratio is calculated by dividing the company's total debt (liabilities) by its shareholder equity. This ratio helps evaluate the company's risk exposure related to debt. A lower debt-to-equity ratio suggests a lower risk level, while a higher ratio indicates a higher level of financial risk.

  • The interest coverage ratio measures the company's capacity to pay interest on its debts. It is calculated by dividing earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) by interest expense. A high-interest coverage ratio, such as 5:1 or more, reflects that the company can comfortably meet its interest obligations.

Efficiency Ratios: How Well Does the Company Utilize Its Resources?

  • Inventory turnover measures how quickly a company sells its inventory during a given period. A higher turnover ratio implies efficient sales and inventory management practices.

  • Accounts receivable turnover evaluates how long it takes the company to collect payments from customers. A higher turnover ratio suggests prompt collection and efficient credit policies.

  • The accounts payable turnover ratio assesses how long it takes a company to pay its suppliers. A higher turnover ratio indicates that the company pays its suppliers promptly, which can enhance relationships and potentially secure better terms.

Market Ratios: How Does the Company Perform Relative to Competitors?

  • The market capitalization ratio compares the company's market value to its net income. A higher market capitalization ratio indicates that investors are willing to pay a premium for the company's earnings.

  • The dividend yield ratio, on the other hand, represents the company's dividends per share relative to its stock price. This ratio is particularly relevant for income-oriented investors seeking regular dividend income.

Financial ratios are invaluable tools that provide insights into a company's financial condition, performance, and potential. By learning how to calculate and analyze these ratios, you can monitor your company's performance, identify potential risks, and make informed strategic decisions. At Portali, we are passionate about empowering accounting teams with the tools and knowledge to gain a 360-degree view of their company's financial well-being. Understanding financial ratios is a crucial step toward maximizing the potential of our tools and optimizing your company's financial health.

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