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Cash Conversion Cycle (CCC)

The Cash Conversion Cycle (CCC) is a financial metric that measures how long it takes for a company to convert its investments in inventory and other resources into cash from sales. The CCC assesses the time it takes for a company to buy inventory, sell it, and collect cash from customers. The cycle consists of three components: Days Inventory Outstanding (DIO), Days Sales Outstanding (DSO), and Days Payables Outstanding (DPO). A shorter CCC indicates better liquidity and operational efficiency, as the company can quickly turn resources into cash.

Example

A retail company has a CCC of 45 days, meaning it takes 45 days to convert its inventory and sales into cash, after accounting for its payables period.

Key points

CCC measures the time it takes to convert investments in inventory into cash.

A shorter CCC indicates faster cash conversion and better operational efficiency.

The cycle includes inventory turnover, sales collection, and payment of liabilities.

Quick Answers to Curious Questions

CCC = Days Inventory Outstanding (DIO) + Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) – Days Payables Outstanding (DPO).

A shorter CCC means the company can quickly turn inventory into cash, improving liquidity and reducing the need for external financing.

A negative CCC indicates that a company receives cash from sales before it needs to pay its suppliers, a sign of strong cash flow management.
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