Ratio Anaysis

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RATIO ANAYSIS

Ratio Analysis

Ratio Analysis

Question 1

The following information is taken from the profit and loss account of two public companies.

Answer

Financial analysis is an integral part of the decision making process. A detailed financial analysis of the two companies is provided here onwards, which encompasses various aspects of financial information. Financial ratio analysis will cover the profitability, efficiency, liquidity and the leverage of the. The financial performance that follows is evaluated and analysed from the perspective of shareholder.

 

Alpha Plc (£m)

Beta plc (£m)

Sales

55.7

22.3

Cost of sales

(49.1)

(10.2)

Gross Profit

6.6

12.1

Expenses

(4.4) (6.3)

Operating Profit

2.2

5.8

Interest paid

(0.6)

(1.1)

Net Profit before tax

1.6

4.7

Capital employed

8.8

34.3

You have been asked to calculate, for each company, the following ratios and explain what they mean in the form of a short report to management:

Gross Profit percentage

GP Percentage = GP/Sales

Alpha Plc

= 6.6/55.7

= 11.8%

Beta plc

= 12.1/22.3

= 54.2%

Net profit percentage

NP Percentage = NP / Sales

Alpha Plc

=1.6/55.7

= 2.8%

Beta plc

= 4.7/22.3

= 21.1%

Operating profit percentage

Operating Profit % = Operating Profit / Sales

Alpha Plc

=2.2/55.7

= 3.9%

Beta plc

= 5.8/22.3

= 26.0%

(d) Return on capital employed

Return on Capital Employed (ROCE0 = Net Profit / Capital Employed

Alpha Plc

=1.6/8.8

= 18.18%

Beta plc

= 4.7/34.3

= 13.7%

Question 2: The following information is taken from the balance sheets of two companies.

Alpha Plc (£m)

Beta plc (£m)

Stock

3.8

4.1

Debtors

4.5

0.7

Bank Overdraft

0.4

6.3

Creditors

5.1

10.7

Long Term Loans

3.2

2.1

Share Capital

4.5

8.4

Reserves

1.4

4.7

Notes:

Sales for Year

43.9

96.3

Purchases for Year

32.4

85.1

Cost of Sales

33.6

84.7

You are to calculate for each company:

• Working capital ratio

Working Capital for the Companies

Alpha Plc (£m)

Beta plc (£m)

Stock

3.8

4.1

Debtors

4.5

0.7

Working Capital

8.3

4.8

Working Capital Ratio or Net Working Capital = Current Assets minus Current Liabilities

Alpha Plc

= 8.3m - 5.1m - 0.4m

= 2.8m

Beta Plc

= 4.8 - 6.3 - 10.7

= -12.2m

• Liquid capital ratio

Liquid Assets / Current Liabilities

Alpha Plc (£m)

Beta plc (£m)

Bank Overdraft

0.4

6.3

Creditors

5.1

10.7

Total Current Liabilities

5.5

17.0

Alpha Plc (£m)

Beta plc (£m)

Current Assets

Debtors

4.5

0.7

Alpha Plc

= 4.5/5.5

= 0.81

Beta Plc

= 0.7/17.0

= 0.41

• Debtors' collection period

Debtors Turnover = Sales/Debtors

Alpha

43.9/4.5

9.75

Debtors Collection = 365/Debtors Turnover

=365/9.75

= 37.4 days

Beta

96.3/0.7

= 137.5

• Creditors' payment period

365/Creditors Turnover

Credit Turnover = Cost of Goods sold / Creditors

Alpha Credit Turnover

33.6/5.1

= 6.58

Alpha Creditors Payment Period

= 365/6.58

= 55.4 days

Beta Credit Turnover

84.7/10.7

= 7.91

• Stock turnover

Stock Turnover = Cost of Goods Sold / Stock

Alpha = 33.6/3.8

= 8.8 times

Beta = 84.7/4.1

= 20.6 times

• Gearing ratio

Alpha Plc (£m)

Beta plc (£m)

Bank Overdraft

0.4

6.3

Creditors

5.1

10.7

Long Term Loans

3.2

2.1

Total Debt

8.7

19.1

Share Capital

4.5

8.4

Reserves

1.4

4.7

Total Equity

5.9

13.1

Total Debt / Total Equity

Alpha = 8.7/5.9

= 1.47

Beta = 19.1/13.1

= 1.45

Question 3

One company runs a departmental store. The other one is a chemical manufacturer. Which is which? Explain your answer with a short essay. How have ratios helped you analyse the two businesses in the above exercise?

Answer

In attempting to analyze financial statements through the use of financial ratios organizations should have the expertise to interpret them in order to bring about positive changing in the organizational performances (Weston 1990: 295). The paragraphs here onwards interpret the ratios to extract meaningful information for decision-making process from the shareholder's or investor's perspective.

Mathematically, a ratio is one reason, i.e. the relationship between two numbers. In ratios, liquidity ratio is of particular relevance ...