Series B Funding
In the previous articles, we have already learned about the seed funding stage as well as the series A funding stage. We know that entrepreneurs raise seed funding in order to be able to build the prototype of the product. After the prototype is in place, they raise Series A funding to build the actual […]
Equivalent Annual Costs
In the previous articles we have seen how we can convert a possible future stream of cash flows to its present value today to make investment decisions. We choose amongst competing projects and the one with the highest NPV is usually selected. But sometimes this may not be the appropriate thing to do. Example: Consider […]
What are Eurobonds?
The Eurobond market is one of the largest debt markets in the world. It comprises a large portion of the debt which is issued by multinational companies as well as governments. It is therefore important for any student of fixed income securities to be aware of what Eurobonds are. The fact that these bonds are […]
Advantages and Disadvantages of Convertible Debt
In the previous article, we studied the concept of convertible debt and some of the common terms which are used while discussing convertible debt. In this article, we will have a closer look at some of the advantages and disadvantages of using this form of debt. Advantages of Using Convertible Debt Many companies continue to […]
The Rent vs. Buy Decision
The rent vs. buy decision is as old as the concept of financial planning itself. There are people who have very strong views on both sides of the spectrum. There are some people who believe that owning a home is always better and that renting a house is like throwing money away. At the same […]
Working Capital to Sales Ratio = Working Capital / Sales
Stating the working capital as an absolute figure makes little sense. Consider two companies, both having the same working capital of USD 100. While one company uses this working capital to generate sales of USD 500, the other uses the same amount as working capital to generate USD 1000 in sales. Which one do you think will be more profitable? Which one do you think is more efficient?
When companies use the same working capital to generate more sales, it means that they are using the same funds over and over again. This is why this ratio is also called “Working Capital Turnover Ratio” as it measures the number of times working capital has been turned over. The higher the sales, the more the profits and therefore the more appropriate use of working capital has been made.
The working capital to sales ratio uses the working capital and sales figures from the previous year’s financial statements. Hence, there is obviously an assumption that working capital and sales have been accurately stated. Companies may over stock or under stock because of expectations of shortage of raw materials. These influences are however short term. Thus while reading this number the analyst must compare it with the past numbers to see if this is usual state of affairs for the company or whether this is an exception.
These investors may be true because the stock market takes any news of cash shortage very seriously and the stock plummets in the market. But the price in the stock may be short term.
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