Measuring the financial performance of a business Flashcards
What is profitability?
The ability to earn profit compared to a base figure such as sales, average assets or owner’s investment
What are the profitability indicators?
- Gross profit margin
- Net profit margin
- Return on assets
- Asset turnover
- Return on owner’s investment
Gross profit margin (GPM)
= (Gross profit / Net sales) x 100
- Measures the avg mark-up of inventory by calculating the percentage of sales revenue retained as gross profit after cost of goods sold has been deducted
- Expressed as percentage
How can GPM be improved?
- Increase avg selling price of stock
- Decrease avg cost prices (bulk buying, cheaper suppliers)
- Decrease sales returns
Net profit margin (NPM)
= (Net profit / Net sales) x 100
- Measures expense control by calculating % of sales retained as net profit
- Expressed as percentage
How can NPM be improved?
- Increase avg selling price of stock
- Decrease avg cost prices
- Decrease sales returns
Return on assets (ROA)
= (Net profit / Avg total assets) x 100
- Measures how effectively business has used assets to earn profit
- Expressed as percentage
How can ROA be improved?
- Reduce value of avg assets (use assets efficiently, sell idle/unproductive assets)
- Improve net profit through expense control
Asset turnover (ATO)
= Net sales / Avg total assets
- Measures the number of times in a period the value of assets is earned as sales revenue
- Expressed as times per period
How can ATO be improved?
- Increase net sales
- Decrease avg total assets
Return on owner’s investment (ROI)
= (Net profit / Avg OE) x 100
- Measures how effectively business has used owner’s capital to earn profit
- Expressed as percentage
How can ROI be improved?
- Improve net profit through expense control/sales growth
- Reduce avg OE by using liabilities to fund assets
What is liquidity?
The ability to meet short term debts as they fall due
What are the liquidity indicators?
- Cash flow cover
- Working capital ratio
- Quick asset ratio
Cash flow cover (CFC)
= Net flows from operating activities / Avg current liabilities
- Measures the number of times net cash flows from operating activities is able to cover avg current liabilities
- Expressed as times per period