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Financial Ratios Analysis

Assessing Financial Health

Why ratios matter

Understanding these ratios helps stakeholders assess a business’s financial health, risk, and efficiency. They are critical tools for investment and management decisions.

Return on Capital Employed (ROCE)

(Operating profit ÷ Capital employed) × 100
Measures how efficiently capital invested is generating profit. Higher ROCE indicates better use of funds to generate profits.

Key Ratio Categories

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Profitability ratio

Measures how efficiently capital invested is generating profit.
⚙️

Efficiency ratios

Measures how quickly stock is sold and replaced or payments are handled.
⚖️

Gearing ratio

Measures proportion of debt (borrowed funds) compared to total capital.

Gearing Ratio Trade-offs

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High GearingA company relies more on debt financing, which can increase risk but may enhance returns.
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Low GearingIndicates reliance on equity and lower financial risk but possibly less aggressive growth.

Inventory Turnover Ratio

Cost of sales ÷ Average inventory
Indicates how quickly stock is sold and replaced.

Trade Receivable Days

(Trade receivables ÷ Revenue) × 365 days
Average time for customers to pay. Longer payment periods may cause cash flow problems.

Trade Payable Days

(Trade payables ÷ Cost of sales) × 365 days
Average time the business takes to pay suppliers. Longer payables may improve cash flow but risk supplier relations.

Inventory Management Note

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Interpretation: A high inventory turnover ratio means efficient inventory management; too high may risk stock shortages.

Capital Employed

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Capital Employed

Equity + Non-current liabilities.
🏦

Non-current liabilities

Long-term debts such as bank loans or mortgages.

Gearing Ratio Calculation

(Non-current liabilities ÷ Capital employed) × 100
Measures proportion of debt (borrowed funds) compared to total capital.
Financial Ratios Deck
Term
Return on Capital Employed (ROCE)

What does ROCE measure?

Answer
Meaning

How efficiently capital invested is generating profit.

Term
ROCE Formula

What is the formula for ROCE?

Answer
Formula

(Operating Profit ÷ Capital Employed) × 100

Term
Capital Employed

How is Capital Employed calculated?

Answer
Calculation

Equity + Non-current liabilities

Term
High ROCE

What does a high ROCE indicate?

Answer
Indicator

Better use of funds to generate profits.

Term
Inventory Turnover Ratio

What does inventory turnover ratio show?

Answer
Meaning

How quickly stock is sold and replaced.

Term
Inventory Turnover Formula

What is the formula for inventory turnover?

Answer
Formula

Cost of sales ÷ Average inventory

Term
High Inventory Turnover

What does a high inventory turnover imply?

Answer
Implication

Efficient inventory management but risk of stock shortages if too high.

Term
Trade Receivable Days

What does trade receivable days measure?

Answer
Meaning

Average time customers take to pay.

Term
Trade Receivable Days Formula

How is trade receivable days calculated?

Answer
Formula

(Trade Receivables ÷ Revenue) × 365 days

Term
Long Trade Receivable Days

What could longer trade receivable days cause?

Answer
Effect

Cash flow problems.

Term
Trade Payable Days

What does trade payable days show?

Answer
Meaning

Average time business takes to pay suppliers.

Term
Trade Payable Days Formula

What is the formula for trade payable days?

Answer
Formula

(Trade Payables ÷ Cost of Sales) × 365 days

Term
Long Trade Payable Days

What are potential impacts of longer trade payable days?

Answer
Impact

Improves cash flow but risks supplier relationships.

Term
Gearing Ratio

What does the gearing ratio measure?

Answer
Meaning

Proportion of debt compared to total capital.

Term
Gearing Ratio Formula

What is the formula for gearing ratio?

Answer
Formula

(Non-current liabilities ÷ Capital Employed) × 100

Term
High Gearing Ratio

What does a high gearing ratio indicate?

Answer
Indicator

More debt financing, higher risk, potential for higher returns.

Term
Low Gearing Ratio

What does a low gearing ratio indicate?

Answer
Indicator

Reliance on equity, lower financial risk, possibly less aggressive growth.

📊 Financial Ratios Quiz

1. What does ROCE measure?

ROCE shows how efficiently the capital invested is generating profit.

2. Which formula correctly calculates inventory turnover?

Inventory turnover measures how fast stock is sold by this formula.

3. Longer trade receivable days may result in:

Longer customer payment periods delay incoming cash.

4. What does a high gearing ratio indicate?

High gearing means a larger proportion of debt in capital structure, increasing financial risk.

5. Trade payable days formula is:

This formula calculates the average time taken to pay suppliers.

📊 Results