unit 7 Flashcards
what is ratio analysis
the comparison of financial data to gain insights into business performance
what does ratio analysis help to answer
why one business is more profitable than the other
-what returns are being earned in investment in a business.
-is a business able to stay solvent
-how effectively is a business using its assets.
where does the information for ratio analysis come from
-income statement
-balance sheet
what is included in the income statement
revenues
-cost of sales
-gross profit
-operating profit
-net profit
what is included in the balance sheet
current assets
current liabilities
inventories
trade receivables and payables]
long term liabilities
capital and reserves
stages in ratio analysis
gather data- calculate ratios- interpret results- take action
three main groups of rations
-profitability
-liquidity
-Financial efficiency
who are the key users of ratios
profitability- shareholders, government, competitors, employees.
Liquidity- shareholders, lenders, suppliers
Financial efficiency-shareholders, Lenders, competitors.
what is liquidity
the ability of a company to change its assets into cash.
different between income statement and balance sheet
income is within one day whereas balance is within one year
what his the difference between Current liabilities and non current liabilities
current is something you have to pay in 12 months, non current is more long term like a loan
what are net assets
non current plus current assets minus liabilities
limitations of ratio analysis
one data set is not enough
reliability of data
based on the past
comparability
why might ratio data not be entirely reliable
-financial information involves making subjective judgements
-different business have different accounting policies
-potential for manipulation of accounting information (window dressing) -boosting figures, look carefully on where the data has come from.
the importance of effective comparison
one ratio is rarely enough- need to compare with competitors- need to analyse over time.
Circumstances change over time
-markets and industries change
-different economic and market conditions.
what ratios don’t tell you
competitive advantages
quality
ethical reputation
future prospects
changes in the external environment
what is the definition of a balance sheet
a document describing the financial position of a company at a particular point in time. It compares the items owed by the organisation (assets) with the amount it owes (its liabilities) and shows how the firm has been funded
what are non-current assets
what the business owns with a lifespan of more than a year.
what are current asset
assets owned by the business that are likely to be turned into cash within one year.
what are current liabilities and what are non-current liabilities
current liabilities are short-term, debts of the business , will have to be repaid within one year.
non-current liabilities, are debts that need to be repaid, but not within one year
why is a balance sheet beneficial.
shows thew source of all capital invested in the business for it to be able to operate, and in what form that money currently is in within the firm, e.g stock, premises, debt
what are net current assets also known as
working capital
liquidity
a firms ability to pay its short-term liabilities (debts)
what needs to be the same on a balance sheet
net current assets and total equity.