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Updated on Jun 21, 2024
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Liquid ratio

The liquid ratio, also known as the quick ratio or acid-test ratio, is a financial metric used to evaluate a company’s short-term liquidity. It measures the ability of a company to meet its short-term obligations using its most liquid assets, excluding inventory.
Written by
Reviewed by
Updated on Jun 21, 2024
Reading time 4 minutes

3 key takeaways

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  • The liquid ratio measures a company’s ability to meet short-term obligations using its most liquid assets, excluding inventory.
  • A higher liquid ratio indicates better short-term financial health and liquidity, while a lower ratio may signal potential liquidity issues.
  • The formula for calculating the liquid ratio is: Liquid Ratio = (Current Assets – Inventory) / Current Liabilities.

What is the liquid ratio?

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The liquid ratio is a stringent test of a company’s short-term liquidity, assessing its capacity to pay off current liabilities using only its most liquid assets. Liquid assets typically include cash, marketable securities, and accounts receivable, but exclude inventory due to its potential illiquidity in times of financial distress.

Example

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Consider a company with the following financial data:

  • Current assets: $200,000
  • Inventory: $50,000
  • Current liabilities: $100,000

The liquid ratio would be calculated as:
[ \text{Liquid Ratio} = \frac{\text{Current Assets} – \text{Inventory}}{\text{Current Liabilities}} = \frac{200,000 – 50,000}{100,000} = 1.5 ]

This ratio of 1.5 means that the company has $1.50 in liquid assets for every $1.00 of current liabilities.

Key components of the liquid ratio

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Current assets

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Current assets are assets that are expected to be converted into cash within one year. They include:

  • Cash and cash equivalents
  • Marketable securities
  • Accounts receivable
  • Inventory (excluded from liquid ratio calculation)

Inventory

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Inventory consists of goods available for sale. While inventory is a current asset, it is excluded from the liquid ratio calculation due to its potential illiquidity and the time it may take to convert into cash.

Current liabilities

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Current liabilities are obligations that the company must pay within one year. They include:

  • Accounts payable
  • Short-term debt
  • Accrued expenses
  • Other short-term liabilities

Importance of the liquid ratio

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Assessing liquidity

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The liquid ratio provides a clear picture of a company’s liquidity by focusing on assets that can be quickly converted into cash. This helps assess the company’s ability to meet short-term obligations without relying on inventory sales.

Financial health

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A strong liquid ratio indicates good financial health, suggesting that the company can easily cover its short-term debts. Conversely, a low ratio may signal potential liquidity problems and financial instability.

Creditworthiness

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Creditors and investors use the liquid ratio to evaluate a company’s creditworthiness. A higher ratio often implies a lower risk of default, making the company more attractive to lenders and investors.

Advantages and disadvantages of the liquid ratio

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Advantages

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  • Stringent measure: The liquid ratio provides a stringent measure of liquidity by excluding inventory, offering a conservative view of the company’s financial health.
  • Quick assessment: It allows for a quick assessment of the company’s ability to meet immediate liabilities using its most liquid assets.
  • Benchmarking: The ratio can be used to benchmark a company’s liquidity against industry standards or competitors.

Disadvantages

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  • Ignores inventory: By excluding inventory, the liquid ratio may understate the company’s true liquidity, especially for businesses with fast-moving inventory.
  • Short-term focus: The ratio focuses on short-term liquidity and does not consider long-term financial stability or profitability.
  • Variability: The ratio can vary significantly between industries, making cross-industry comparisons less meaningful.

Practical considerations

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Industry norms

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When interpreting the liquid ratio, it is essential to consider industry norms and standards. Different industries have varying levels of acceptable liquidity, and a good ratio in one industry may be considered poor in another.

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Analyzing the liquid ratio over time provides insights into a company’s liquidity trends and financial management practices. A declining ratio may indicate worsening liquidity, while an improving ratio suggests better financial health.

Complementary ratios

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The liquid ratio should be used in conjunction with other financial ratios, such as the current ratio and cash ratio, to get a comprehensive view of a company’s liquidity and overall financial health.

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  • Current ratio: Explore the current ratio, which includes inventory in the calculation and provides a broader view of liquidity.
  • Cash ratio: Understand the cash ratio, a more stringent measure of liquidity that includes only cash and cash equivalents.
  • Working capital management: Learn about managing working capital to maintain optimal liquidity and operational efficiency.

The liquid ratio is a critical financial metric for assessing a company’s short-term liquidity by focusing on its most liquid assets. By understanding its components, advantages, and practical applications, stakeholders can make informed decisions about a company’s financial health and stability.


Sources & references

Arti

Arti

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Arti is a specialized AI Financial Assistant at Invezz, created to support the editorial team. He leverages both AI and the Invezz.com knowledge base, understands over 100,000 Invezz related data points, has read every piece of research, news and guidance we\'ve ever produced, and is trained to never make up new...