In this article, we will take a look at the 5 most important financial ratios to analyze a company. If you want to read our detailed analysis, you can go directly to 12 Most Important Financial Ratios to Analyze a Company.
5. Debt to Equity Ratio (D/E)
Number of Mentions: 4
According to our methodology, the debt-to-equity ratio (D/E) is one of the most important financial ratios to analyze a company. The debt-to-equity ratio (D/E) is a measure of how much a company owes to its creditors compared to its shareholder equity. The ratio is calculated by dividing total debt by total shareholders equity. Total debt includes short-term debt, long-term debt, and other fixed payments. The lower the ratio, the less riskier a business is. A business with a higher debt-to-equity ratio (D/E) suggests that a company may be unable to meet its debt using its financing options in case of bankruptcy.
4. Quick Ratio
Number of Mentions: 4
To address the negative impact of including the inventory in the current ratio, the quick ratio is measured by dividing the current assets minus the inventory by the current liabilities. The quick ratio is a more stringent measure of a company’s liquidity as it includes only the most liquid assets. A quick ratio above 1 is a great sign of a company’s liquidity, ability to meet day-to-day expenses, and cash flow performance.
3. Current Ratio
Number of Mentions: 4
The current ratio is an important financial ratio to assess the performance of a company. The current ratio is a liquidity ratio and helps assess how liquid a company is in meeting its day-to-day expenses. The current ratio is calculated by dividing the total current assets of a company by its current liabilities. A current ratio above 1 indicates that a company is liquid or has enough cash to meet day-to-day expenses. Since the current ratio also includes the inventory, a company having a high inventory may also report a strong current ratio. However, in such cases, the current ratio may neglect the fact that the company is not making enough sales to have a high inventory level sitting idle.
2. Return on Equity (ROE)
Number of Mentions: 4
The return on equity ratio is one of the most important financial ratios to analyze a company. The ratio helps companies assess how efficiently they are able to convert their financing into profits. The return on equity ratio (ROE) is calculated by dividing a company’s net income by its shareholder equity for a certain fiscal period. The ratio is a comprehensive measure to assess how profitable the company is against the capital invested by the shareholder. A low ROE may suggest that a company is underperforming, has low sales, or has high costs.
1. Profit Margin Ratio
Number of Mentions: 4
According to our methodology, the profit margin ratio is one of the most important financial ratios to analyze a company. The profit margin ratio, commonly termed the net margin ratio, calculates the percentage of profit a company produces from its total revenue. It is calculated by dividing the net income of a company by its total revenue for a certain fiscal period. Usually, accountants multiply the ratio by 100 to obtain a percentage. The net margin is an important indicator of whether the company is generating enough income from its sales and has its overhead and operating costs under control. A low margin may suggest high costs and is also a strong measure to compare business performance.
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