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Unit 1

Ratios and interpretation

As we learnt in our earlier studies, accounting information is used to answer two key questions about a business: Is it making a profit? Are its assets sufficient to meet its liabilities? We have also considered the form in which different types of businesses prepare their final accounts. Now we need to examine in more detail how these accounting statements can be used to assess a business performance and progress. There are two stages in this process: 1 Analysis This is the detailed examination of various aspects of a business performance. To make comparisons (with other businesses or for the same business over a period of time) easier and more meaningful, the results are expressed as percentages or ratios, e.g. the percentage of gross profit to sales, or the working capital ratio. 2 Interpretation Here the results of analysis are used to judge a business performance. This is done by making comparisons a with other similar businesses, usually within the same year, e.g. was the gross profit to sales percentage last year better or worse than the average for the trade or industry? b for the same business over a number of years, e.g. has the trend of the gross profit percentage to sales over the last five years been up or down? We will also examine the extent to which analysis and interpretation are useful tools for owners and others in making and assessing business decisions. This unit is divided into three sections: Section 1: Ratios Section 2: The uses of accounting statements Section 3: Cash flow statements (NSSCH)

Section 1 Ratios
By the end of this section you should be able to: explain the meaning of the term accounting ratios classify accounting ratios into profitability, liquidity, efficiency and investment ratios define liquidity ratios calculate liquidity ratios (current, quick) explain the uses of liquidity ratios

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NSSC Accounting

define efficiency ratios calculate efficiency ratios (rate of stock turn, collection period for debtors, payment period for creditors) explain the uses of efficiency ratios define profitability ratios calculate profitability ratios (percentage of gross profit and net profit to sales, net profit as a percentage of capital employed) explain the uses of profitability ratios calculate the working capital and the effects of transactions on it make suggestions and recommendations for improving profitability and working capital define investment ratios (NSSCH) calculate investment ratios (earnings per share, price/earnings) (NSSCH) explain the uses of the investment ratios (NSSCH) We will now revise our understanding of some key terms that relate to and would be used in a Balance Sheet. If you feel you need help, refer to Module 1, where we looked at the information contained in a Balance Sheet. We learnt about the differences between assets and liabilities and how they are shown in appropriate groupings which help us to recognise the different definitions of business capital.

Assets and liabilities

1 Assets are what the business owns and show how resources are used.
Main characteristics Fixed For long-term use in the business Enable revenue to be earned Not held for re-sale Goodwill Land and buildings (*see Note), equipment, fittings, machinery, vehicles Example(s)

intangible have a monetary value but no separate physical existence tangible do have physical existence; shown at cost less depreciation to date

Investments Money invested in an account for a long Fixed deposit time period without using it Current Constantly changing Easily turned into cash Income amount not yet received for the current financial period Expense amount already paid for the next financial period Stock, debtors, cash and bank Accrued Income Prepaid Expenses

Note Land will not normally be depreciated unless its value is likely to fall due to some special circumstance. However, any buildings or property on the land will depreciate and should therefore be written off over their expected useful life.

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Module 3 Unit 1

2 Liabilities are what the business owes and show where resources come from.
Main characteristics Owners equity Long-term Current Example(s) Amount of owners investment in the Capital and drawings business; owed by the business to owner sole trader, partner, shareholder Not repayable within one year External source of funds Short-term, payable within one year Arise from normal trading activities Income amount already received for the next financial period Expense amount not yet paid for the current financial period Bank loan, loan on mortgage Creditors, bank overdraft Income Received in Advance Accrued Expenses

A business final accounts its Trading and Profit and Loss Account, and Balance Sheet show results and information that are important to the owner(s). But we also need to consider how useful this information is now and how it can be used in making decisions for the future. What the Balance Sheet shows In Module 1 we also considered the Balance Sheet of Joe Kover as at 31 December 20.2. This is now shown in vertical form on the next page. Kinds of capital 1 Capital owned by Joe in the business at 31 December 20.2 is N$122 000 (this is sometimes called capital invested).
Hint
Another way of calculating capital employed is to subtract the current liabilities from the total of the assets.

2 Capital employed is the amount Joe has invested plus any longterm (external) source of funds (in this case, the bank loan). Capital employed is therefore N$127 000 (N$122 000 + N$5 000). 3 Working capital is very important because it tells Joe whether his business can meet its debts, i.e. whether or not the business is solvent. Working capital is found by deducting current liabilities from current assets.
In Joes case this is Current assets Less Current liabilities Working capital N$ 16 000 13 000 3 000

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NSSC Accounting

Joe Kover Balance Sheet as at 31 December 20.2 N$ N$ Capital Employed Owners Equity Capital Add net profit for year Less Drawings Long-term liability Bank loan

N$ 122 000

120 000 12 000

132 000 10 000 5 000 5 000 127 000

Employment of Capital Fixed assets Shop premises Furniture and fittings Working capital Current assets Stock Debtors Bank Cash Less Current liabilities Creditors

Cost Price 90 000 37 000 127 000

Provision for Depreciation 3 000 3 000 16 000

Book Value 90 000 34 000 124 000 3 000

6 000 8 000 1 500 500 13 000 13 000 127 000

ACTIVITY 1

1 2

Explain the difference between tangible fixed assets and intangible fixed assets. The following Trial Balance was taken from the books of Sam Smith on 31 December 20.2:
Balance Sheet Account Section Capital 31 December 20.2 Premises at cost Equipment at cost Provision for depreciation of equipment Stock Debtors and Creditors Accrued Expenses (rent) Prepaid Expenses (insurance) Bank Debit N$ 50 000 20 000 7 000 12 000 11 000 1 000 3 000 97 000 8 000 2 000 Credit N$ 80 000

97 000

For the year ended 31 December 20.2, Sams net profit was N$8 000 and his drawings were N$5 000.

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Module 3 Unit 1

a b

Calculate Sams capital at 1 January 20.2. Prepare Sams Balance Sheet at 31 December 20.2 in vertical form, showing his: i total fixed assets ii working capital.

You should spend about 20 minutes on this activity. We also learnt quite early in our studies that the real value of accounting information depends largely on how it is used. Again, consider Joe Kovers business. We saw that in the year ended 31 December 20.2, Joe made a net profit of N$12 000. Whilst it is obviously important for Joe to know what profit he made, we also saw that this result needs to be measured against some other standard, e.g. as a percentage of his sales for the year. We will learn how to calculate various ratios measuring profitability and liquidity. We will then consider in section D how ratio analysis can help us to judge a business performance and lead to action for its improvement.

Profit measurement
It is often very useful to measure gross and net profits in relation to sales. But these profits also need to be measured against other factors, such as: the capital employed in the business the profits of previous years the profits earned by similar businesses. The accounting ratios are divided into the following groups:
Group Liquidity ratios Current ratio Quick ratios (also called Acid test ratios) Efficiency ratios Rate of stock turn/turnover Collection period debtors Ratio Formula Current Assets : Current Liabilities Current Assets Stock : Current Liabilities Cost of sales Average stock 1 Debtors 365 days Credit Sales 1 OR Debtors 12 months Credit Sales 1 Payment period creditors Creditors 365 days Credit purchases 1 OR Creditors 12 months Credit purchases 1

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NSSC Accounting

Group Profitability ratios

Ratio Percentage of gross profit to sales Percentage of net profit to sales

Formula Gross profit 100 Turnover 1

Net profit 100 Turnover 1 Net profit as percentage of Capital Net Income 100 Employed (also called Return on Owners Owners equity 2 1 Equity Investment ratios (NSSCH) Earnings per share Price/Earnings ratio Net income after tax 100c No. of issued shares 1 Stock market price Earnings per share

1 2

Average Stock = (Opening stock + closing stock) 2 Owners Equity = Capital at the beginning of the year

Accounting ratios: liquidity

Hint
You will remember from Module 1 that liquidity measures how quickly assets can be turned into cash.

Ratio Current ratio

Answer form Use for/comment on x:1 To check liquidity ability to pay short-term debts the norm is 2 : 1 Compare with previous year To check investment in stock To check liquidity ability to pay short-term debts The norm is 1 : 1 Compare with previous year

Quick ratio

x:1

Hint
Current liabilities are amounts payable within 12 months.

Current ratio (also known as the working capital ratio) The formula for calculating this ratio is
Hint
In judging what is a reasonable ratio, a ratio exceeding 2 : 1 may indicate poor use of current assets, such as holding excessive stocks or cash.

Current assets Current liabilities

OR

Current assets : Current liabilities

You should note that this ratio is not expressed as a percentage. Again taking the example of Joe Kovers business, we can state his current ratio as N$16 000 = 1,23 : 1 N$13 000 This indicates that Joe has sufficient current assets to cover his current liabilities. Quick ratio (also known as the acid test ratio)

Hint
Usually a ratio of 1 : 1 is regarded as safe, but much depends on the nature of the business if sales are largely for cash, a lower ratio may well be satisfactory.

In this calculation the asset of stock is excluded. This is because stock is the least liquid current asset and may be slow to turn into cash. As we saw in Module 1, this presents quite a different picture for Joes business, as the calculation gives:

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Module 3 Unit 1

Current assets less stock OR Current assets stock : Current liabilities Current liabilities N$10 000 = 0,77 : 1 N$13 000 This ratio is also not expressed as a percentage.

Accounting ratios: efficiency

Ratio Rate of stockturn Answer form Use for/comment on x times per annum To check liquidity and operating efficiency Compare with previous year Answer/result is the number of times per annum stock is replaced q high is always advantageous low rate indicates stockpiling, wrong purchases, poor sales To check liquidity Compare against credit policy short period is always better, i.e. fewer than 30 days The shorter the period the better positive effect on liquidity Encourage payment by giving settlement discounts or charge interest on overdue accounts To check liquidity Compare with credit facilities acquired by the business long period is always better, i.e. 60 to 90 days Discounts can be obtained if accounts are settled on time

Collection period debtors

x days OR x months

Payment period creditors

x days OR x months

Rate of stock turnover (also known as stockturn) When we considered incomplete records, we learnt that the number of times a business sells and replaces its stock in a given period is known as its rate of stock turnover. We also learnt that the formula for its calculation is: Cost of goods sold Average stock The information required for the calculation is found in the Trading Account: a b The cost of goods sold is: Opening stock + purchases closing stock The average stock is: Opening stock + closing stock 2

If we apply this formula to Joe Kovers Trading Account, the rate of stock turnover is:
N$60 000 (N$4 000 N$6 000 2) N$60 000 12 times N$5 000

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NSSC Accounting

We learnt that this rate is expressed as a number (of times in the period) i.e. it is not expressed as either a percentage or a monetary amount. It may however be expressed to show how long (in months or days), on average, stock is held. This is quite easily done by the following formulas:
a In months 12 Rate of stock turnover (for Joe) 12 1 month 12 b In days 365 Rate of stock turnover (for Joe) 365 30,4 days 12

This ratio is significant as the more often stock is turned over in a given period the greater will be the gross profit (assuming that the gross profit percentage remains constant). Two other aspects of liquidity concern trading (both selling and buying) on credit. A business working capital is affected by: a how quickly debtors are turned into cash, and b how soon creditors will need to be paid.
Hint
In examination questions you will be given information about the amounts of any sales and purchases on credit.

In the following examples, we will again use figures from Joe Kovers final accounts for the year ended 31 December 20.2. We will assume that: Of his sales total (N$100 000), N$80 000 was to credit customers. All his purchases, N$62 000, were supplied on credit. Collection period for debtors (also known as the debtors/sales ratio) To calculate the average period of credit allowed to debtors, we use the formula below to show the period in days: Debtors 365 Credit sales 1 In Joes case, this gives a period of: N$8 000 365 36,5 days N$80 000 1 This period needs to be watched carefully. Money tied up in debtors for long periods can create or add to a business liquidity problems. Payment period for creditors (also known as the creditors/purchases ratio) Using the same principle as for debtors, this period is found by the formula Creditors 365 Credit purchases 1 For Joes business, this produces a period of: N$13 000 365 76,5 days N$62 000

Hint
To show the same period in months, simply multiply by 12 instead of 365. (In this case, the answer is 1,2 months.)

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Module 3 Unit 1

The longer Joe takes to pay his creditors, the more cash he retains in the business, but he will need to consider other possible effects, such as loss of cash discounts or suppliers not delivering promptly.

ACTIVITY 2

Refer to the final accounts of Rufus Blick for the year ended 31 December 20.1 (on pages 176177 of Module 2, Unit 8). Use the information available to calculate the following: a b c d e Current ratio Quick ratio Rate of stock turnover Collection period for debtors (in days) Payment period for creditors (in days)

Show your calculations. You should complete this activity in about 15 minutes.

ACTIVITY 3

a b

What is the working capital of a business? A business has the following assets and liabilities:
Fixed assets Current assets Current liabilities N$ 50 000 18 000 9 000

Calculate: i the working capital ii the current ratio. c 2 Included in current assets is stock worth N$12 000. Calculate the business quick ratio.

On 31 December Ms Mkize had a business capital of N$90 000 and a long-term bank loan of N$10 000. Her net profit for the year ended was N$15 000.

Calculate Ms Mkizes return on the capital employed in her business.

ACTIVITY 4

Complete each of the following sentences. a b c The ________________________________________ system records details of all a business financial transactions. The profit or loss of a business for a certain period is shown in the _________________________ account. A business financial position on a certain date is shown in the ______________________________.

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10

NSSC Accounting

2 3

State two reasons why it is important to measure the profit or loss of a business. a A retail business provides the following information for the year ended 31 December 20.1
N$ Sales Purchases Stock, 1 January 20.1 Stock, 31 December 20.1 50 000 28 000 6 000 4 000

Calculate the business: i cost of goods sold ii gross profit iii gross profit as a percentage of sales b The expenses of the business are N$11 000 and depreciation for the year is N$3 000. Calculate: i the business net profit ii the net profit as a percentage of sales. iii Explain why depreciation is shown in a Profit and Loss Account. 4 Al Pakah runs an engineering business and provides the following information on 31 December 20.2, his accounting year end.
Fixed assets at cost Depreciation on fixed assets Stock of materials Trade debtors Cash at bank Trade creditors Capital at 1 January 202 Net profit for year Cash drawings for the year N$ 65 000 8 000 13 000 4 000 1 000 9 000 60 000 12 000 6 000

Prepare Als Balance Sheet using the ruling on the next page. (Remember to group the items under the correct headings.)

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