Current Ratio

The current ratio, also known as the working capital ratio, measures the capability of a business to meet its short-term obligations that are due within a year. The ratio considers the weight of total current assets versus total current liabilities. It indicates the financial health of a company and how it can maximize the liquidity of its current assets to settle debt and payables.  The Current Ratio formula (below) can be used to easily measure a company’s liquidity.

Current Ratio = Current Assets / Current Liabilities

What are Current Assets?

Current assets are resources that can quickly be converted into cash within a year’s time or less. They include the following:

• Cash: Legal tender bills, coins, undeposited checks from customers, checking and savings accounts, petty cash
• Cash equivalents: Corporate or government securities with 90 days or less maturity
• Marketable securities: Common stock, preferred stock, government and corporate bonds with a maturity date of 1 year or less
• Accounts receivable: Money owed to the company by customers and that is due within a year. This net value should be after deducting an allowance for doubtful accounts (bad credit)
• Notes receivable: Debt that is maturing within a year
• Other receivables: Insurance claims, employee cash advances, income tax refunds
• Inventory: Raw materials, work-in-process, finished goods, manufacturing/packaging supplies
• Office supplies: Office resources such as paper, pens, and equipment expected to be consumed within a year
• Prepaid expenses: Unexpired insurance premiums, advance payments on future purchases

 What are Current Liabilities?

Current liabilities are business obligations owed to suppliers and creditors, and other payments that are due within a year’s time. This includes:

• Notes payable: Interest and the principal portion of loans that will become due within one year
• Accounts payable or Trade payable: Credit resulting from the purchase of merchandise, raw materials, supplies, or usage of services and utilities
• Accrued expenses: Payroll taxes payable, income taxes payable, interest payable, and anything else that has been accrued for but an invoice is not received
• Deferred revenue: Revenue that the company has been paid for that will be earned in the future when the company satisfies revenue recognition requirements

 Why Use the Current Ratio Formula?

This current ratio is classed with several other financial metrics known as liquidity ratios. These ratios all assess the operations of a company in terms of how financially solid the company is in relation to its outstanding debt. Knowing the current ratio is vital in decision-making for investors, creditors, and suppliers of a company. The current ratio is an important tool in assessing the viability of their business interest.