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Microlesson · 5-min read

Operating Efficiency & Liquidity Position Ratios

# Operating Efficiency and Liquidity Position Ratios

## A. Operating Efficiency

Ratio analysis throws light on the degree of efficiency in management and utilisation of assets. Activity ratios (also called turnover ratios) measure this operational efficiency.

### Purpose

  • Evaluate how effectively the firm manages and utilises its assets.
  • Usually indicate the frequency of sales relative to assets.
  • Assets analysed may be capital assets, working capital, or average inventory.

### Key Insight

> The solvency of a firm is ultimately dependent upon the sales revenue generated by its assets — both total assets and individual components.

### Common Activity Ratios

  • Total Asset Turnover
  • Fixed Asset Turnover
  • Working Capital Turnover
  • Inventory (Stock) Turnover
  • Debtors / Receivables Turnover

## B. Liquidity Position

Liquidity ratios help evaluate whether the firm can meet its current obligations as they fall due.

### Why It Matters

  • Inability to pay short-term liabilities affects credibility and credit rating.
  • Continuous default leads to commercial bankruptcy.
  • Commercial bankruptcy may eventually result in sickness and dissolution.

### Key Liquidity Ratios

RatioFormula
Current RatioCurrent Assets / Current Liabilities
Liquid (Quick) Ratio(Current Assets - Inventory - Prepaid Exp) / Current Liabilities
Cash to Current Liability Ratio(Cash + Marketable Securities) / Current Liabilities

### Who Uses Them?

Liquidity ratios are particularly useful in credit analysis by banks and other suppliers of short-term loans.

Worked example

### Example 1

Illustration: A firm with Current Assets Rs. 50 lakh, Inventory Rs. 20 lakh, and Current Liabilities Rs. 25 lakh.

  • Current Ratio = 50/25 = 2:1 (healthy, ideal is 2:1)
  • Quick Ratio = (50-20)/25 = 1.2:1 (above the 1:1 benchmark)

Bank lending short-term working capital would view this favourably.

⚠️ Common exam mistakes

  • Including inventory in the quick ratio numerator — inventory is excluded as it is the least liquid current asset
  • Confusing activity ratios (efficiency) with liquidity ratios (short-term solvency)
  • Ignoring that continuous default on short-term obligations can lead to bankruptcy, not just credit downgrades
Reference:
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