Corporate Finance【Reading 40】Sample assets, include, example, 2012

karoliukas

An example of a secondary source of liquidity is:

A) negotiating debt contracts.

B) cash flow management.

C) trade credit and bank lines of credit.

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Secondary sources of liquidity include negotiating debt contracts, liquidating assets, and filing for bankruptcy protection and reorganization. Primary sources of liquidity include ready cash balances, short-term funds (e.g., trade credit and bank lines of credit), and cash flow management

karoliukas

The condition that occurs when a company disburses cash too quickly, stretching the company’s cash reserves, is best described as a:

A) pull on liquidity.

B) drag on liquidity.

C) liquidity premium.

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When cash payments are made too quickly, the condition is known as a pull on liquidity. A drag on liquidity occurs when cash inflows lag.

karoliukas

Which of the following is NOT a limitation to financial ratio analysis?

A) The need to use judgment.

B) Differences in international accounting practices.

C) A firm that operates in only one industry.

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If a firm operates in multiple industries, this would limit the value of financial ratio analysis by making it difficult to find comparable industry ratios.

karoliukas

Alton Industries will have better liquidity than its peer group of companies if its:

A) average trade payables are lower.

B) receivables turnover is higher.

C) quick ratio is lower.

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Higher receivables turnover is an indicator of better receivables liquidity since receivables are converted to cash more rapidly. A lower quick ratio is an indication of less liquidity. Lower trade payables could be related to better liquidity, but could also be consistent with very poor liquidity and a requirement from its suppliers of cash payment.

karoliukas

A firm has average days of receivables outstanding of 22 compared to an industry average of 29 days. An analyst would most likely conclude that the firm:

A) has better credit controls than its peer companies.

B) has a lower cash conversion cycle than its peer companies.

C) may have credit policies that are too strict.

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The firm’s average days of receivables should be close to the industry average. A significantly lower average days receivables outstanding, compared to its peers, is an indication that the firm’s credit policy may be too strict and that sales are being lost to peers because of this. We can not assume that stricter credit controls than the average for the industry are “better.” We cannot conclude that credit sales are less, they may be more, but just made on stricter terms. The average days of receivables are only one component of the cash conversion cycle.

karoliukas

The quick ratio is considered a more conservative measure of liquidity than the current ratio because the quick ratio excludes:

A) inventories, which are not necessarily liquid.

B) short-term marketable securities, which may need to be sold at a significant loss.

C) accounts receivable, which may not be collectible in the short term.

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The quick ratio is usually defined as (current assets – inventory) / current liabilities. It is a more restrictive measure of liquidity than the current ratio, which equals current assets / current liabilities. The numerator of the quick ratio includes cash, receivables, and short-term marketable securities.

karoliukas

Which of the following is least likely an indicator of a firm’s liquidity?

A) Inventory turnover.

B) Amount of credit sales.

C) Cash as a percentage of sales.

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No inferences about liquidity are warranted based on this measure. A firm may have higher credit sales than another simply because it has more sales overall. Cash as a proportion of sales and inventory turnover are indicators of liquidity.

karoliukas

In a recent staff meeting, David Hurley, stated that analysts should understand that financial ratios mean little by themselves. He advised his colleagues to evaluate financial ratios carefully. During the discussion he made the following statements:
Statement 1: A company can be compared with others in its industry by relating its financial ratios to industry norms. However, care must be taken because many ratios are industry-specific, but not all ratios are important to all industries.
Statement 2: Comparing a company to the overall economy is useless because overall business conditions are constantly changing. Specifically, it is not the case that financial ratios tend to improve when the economy is strong and weaken during recessionary times.
Are statements 1 and 2 as made by Hurley regarding financial ratio analysis CORRECT?

Statement 1

Statement 2

A) Correct Incorrect

B) Incorrect Correct

C) Correct Correct

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Financial ratios are meaningless by themselves. To have meaning an analyst must use them with other information. An analyst should evaluate financial ratios based on industry norms and economic conditions. Statement 1 is correct. However, statement 2 is not because financial ratios tend to improve when the economy is strong and weaken when the economy is in a recession. So, financial ratios should be reviewed in light of the current stage of the business cycle.

karoliukas

Compared to the prior year, Chart Industries has reported that its operating cycle has remained relatively stable while its cash conversion cycle has decreased. The most likely explanation for this is that the firm:

A) is relying more on its suppliers for short-term liquidity.

B) has improved its inventory turnover.

C) is paying its bills for raw materials more rapidly.

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The cash conversion cycle is its operating cycle minus its average days payables outstanding. Therefore, the firm’s average days payables must have increased, a clear indication that the firm is relying more heavily on credit from its suppliers. Improved inventory turnover would tend to increase both the operating and cash conversion cycles. Relaxed credit policies would tend to increase the firm’s operating cycle as receivables turnover would tend to decrease.

karoliukas

Compared to the prior period, a firm has greater days of receivables. The effect on the firm’s cash conversion cycle and operating cycle are most likely a(n):

Cash conversion cycle

Operating cycle

A) Increase Decrease

B) Decrease Increase

C) Increase Increase

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Greater days of receivables will increase both the cash conversion cycle and operating cycle, other things equal.