Working Capital and Short‑Term Liquidity Ratios Ritter Company has a current ratio of 3.00 on December 31. On that date the company’s current assets are as follows: Cash $32,000 Short-term investments 49,300 Accounts receivable (net) 170,000 Inventory 200,000 Prepaid expenses 11,600 Current assets $462,900 Ritter Company’s current liabilities at the beginning of the year were $150,000 and during the year its operating activities provided a cash flow of $60,000. a. What are the firm’s current liabilities on December 31? $Answer 154,300 b. What is the firm’s working capital on December 31? $Answer 308,600 c. What is the quick ratio on December 31? Round answer to 2 decimal places. Answer 1.63 d. What is the Ritter’s operating-cash-flow-to-current-liabilities ratio? Round answer to 2 decimal places.

Deere & Company (DE)

1. Calculation of Ratios:

a) Return on total assets = Net income divided by the average total assets, multiplied by 100.

Year 3  = $1,523.9/$57,965 x 100 = 2.6%

Year 2  = $1,940.0/$ 59,642 x 100 = 3.3%

Year 1 =  $3,161.7 /$ 60,429  x 100 = 5.2%

b) Return on stockholders' equity: Earnings after taxes/Stockholders' equity x 100.

Year 3  = $1,523.9/$ 6,644  x 100 = 22.9%

Year 2  = $1,940.0/$7,912 x 100 = 24.5%

Year 1 =  $3,161.7 /$ 9,667  x 100 = 32.7%

c) Earnings per share: Net Income/No. of outstanding shares.

Year 3  = $1,523.9/315 = $4.84

Year 2  = $1,940.0/334 = $5.81

Year 1 =  $3,161.7 /363 = $8.71

d) Dividend yield:  This is equal to the annual dividend per share divided by stock price per share, and multiplied by 100.

Year 3  = $2.40/$92.03 x 100 = 2.61%

Year 2  = $2.40/$81.10 x 100 = 2.96%

Year 1 = $2.22/$85.58 x 100 = 2.59%

e) Price-earnings ratio:  This is equal to market price per share divided by the earnings per share.

Year 3  = $92.03/$4.84 = 19.0 times

Year 2  = $81.10/$5.81 = 13.9 times

Year 1 = $85.58/$8.71 = 9.8 times

Explanation:

a) Data

                                                Year 3          Year 2         Year 1

                                               ('millions)     ('millions)     ('millions)

Net income (loss)                   $1,523.9       $1,940.0     $3,161.7

Preferred dividends                    $ 0.00          $ 0.00       $ 0.00

Interest expense                      $763.7        $ 680.0     $ 664.0

Shares outstanding                    315              334            363

for computing earnings per share

Cash dividend per share          $ 2.40      $ 2.40        $ 2.22

Average total assets             $57,965    $ 59,642     $ 60,429

Average stockholders' equity  $ 6,644     $7,912       $ 9,667

Average stock price per share  $ 92.03   $ 81.10      $ 85.58

b) Return on total assets = Net income divided by the average total assets, multiplied by 100.  It shows how well a company generates net income from assets.

Year 3  = $1,523.9/$57,965 x 100 = 2.63%

Year 2  = $1,940.0/$ 59,642 x 100 = 3.25%

Year 1 =  $3,161.7 /$ 60,429  x 100 = 5.23%

c) Return on stockholders' equity: Earnings after taxes/Stockholders' equity x 100.  It demonstrates how much of the earnings after taxes are available to stockholders.

Year 3  = $1,523.9/$ 6,644  x 100 = 22.94%

Year 2  = $1,940.0/$7,912 x 100 = 24.52%

Year 1 =  $3,161.7 /$ 9,667  x 100 = 32.71%

d) Earnings per share: Net Income/No. of outstanding shares.  It shows in dollar terms how much of the earnings made by a company is available to stockholders on the average of each share.

Year 3  = $1,523.9/315 = $4.84

Year 2  = $1,940.0/334 = $5.81

Year 1 =  $3,161.7 /363 = $8.71

e) Dividend yield:  This is equal to the annual dividend per share divided by stock price per share, and multiplied by 100.  It shows how a company pays dividend each year in relation to its share price.

Year 3  = $2.40/$92.03 x 100 = 2.61%

Year 2  = $2.40/$81.10 x 100 = 2.96%

Year 1 = $2.22/$85.58 x 100 = 2.59%

f) Price-earnings ratio:  This is equal to market price per share divided by the earnings per share.  It shows if a company is overvalued or undervalued.

Year 3  = $92.03/$4.84 = 19.0 times

Year 2  = $81.10/$5.81 = 13.9 times

Year 1 = $85.58/$8.71 = 9.8 times

g) Ratios are used to present a picturesque view of a company's financial performance and position to make easily understood and compared with other companies in the industry and over the years (trend analysis).  They are important financial management and investment tools, which should, however, not be taken in isolation.