Introduction to Corporate Finance

Ross et al.: Fundamentals

of Corporate Finance, Sixth

Edition, Alternate Edition

II. Financial Statements

and Long−Term Financial

Planning

3. Working with Financial
   Statements

© The McGraw−Hill^101

Companies, 2002

Days’ sales in receivables 

 30 days

[3.15]

Therefore, on average, Prufrock collects on its credit sales in 30 days. For obvious rea-
sons, this ratio is very frequently called the average collection period (ACP).
Also note that if we are using the most recent figures, we could also say that we have
30 days’ worth of sales currently uncollected. We will learn more about this subject
when we study credit policy in a later chapter.

Asset Turnover Ratios Moving away from specific accounts like inventory or re-
ceivables, we can consider several “big picture” ratios. For example, NWC turnover is:

NWC turnover 

 13.8 times

[3.16]

This ratio measures how much “work” we get out of our working capital. Once again,
assuming we aren’t missing out on sales, a high value is preferred (why?).
Similarly, fixed asset turnover is:

Fixed asset turnover 

.80 times

[3.17]

With this ratio, it probably makes more sense to say that, for every dollar in fixed assets,
Prufrock generated $.80 in sales.
Our final asset management ratio, the total asset turnover, comes up quite a bit. We
will see it later in this chapter and in the next chapter. As the name suggests, the total as-
set turnover is:

Total asset turnover 

 .64 times [3.18]

In other words, for every dollar in assets, Prufrock generated $.64 in sales.
To give an example of fixed and total asset turnover, based on recent financial state-
ments, Delta Airlines had a total asset turnover of .76, as compared to 1.00 for IBM.
However, the much higher investment in fixed assets in an airline is reflected in Delta’s
fixed asset turnover of .89, as compared to IBM’s 1.99.

$2,311

$3,588

Sales

Total assets

$2,311

$2,880

Sales

Net fixed assets

$2,311

$708
540

Sales

NWC

365

12.3

365 days

Receivables turnover

CHAPTER 3 Working with Financial Statements 69

Payables Turnover

Here is a variation on the receivables collection period. How long, on average, does it take for

Prufrock Corporation to pay its bills? To answer, we need to calculate the accounts payable

turnover rate using cost of goods sold. We will assume that Prufrock purchases everything on

credit.

The cost of goods sold is $1,344, and accounts payable are $344. The turnover is therefore

$1,344/$344 3.9 times. So payables turned over about every 365/3.9 94 days. On aver-

age, then, Prufrock takes 94 days to pay. As a potential creditor, we might take note of this fact.

EXAMPLE 3.2

PricewaterhouseCoopers

has a useful utility for

extracting EDGAR data.

Try it at edgarscan.

pwcglobal.com.