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Quick Ratio

The quick ratio, also known as the acid-test ratio, is a liquidity metric that measures a company's ability to meet its short-term liabilities using its most liquid assets. It is calculated by dividing a company’s quick assets (cash, marketable securities, and receivables) by its current liabilities. A quick ratio greater than 1 indicates that a company has enough liquid assets to cover its short-term obligations without needing to sell inventory. This ratio is particularly useful for assessing a company’s short-term financial health.

Example

A company has $200,000 in cash and receivables and $150,000 in current liabilities, resulting in a quick ratio of 1.33, suggesting good short-term liquidity.

Key points

Measures a company’s ability to pay short-term liabilities using liquid assets.

Calculated as (Cash + Marketable Securities + Receivables) / Current Liabilities.

A ratio above 1 indicates strong liquidity; below 1 may suggest potential liquidity issues.

Quick Answers to Curious Questions

It evaluates a company’s ability to meet immediate obligations, providing insight into short-term financial stability without relying on inventory.

The quick ratio excludes inventory, focusing only on the most liquid assets, while the current ratio includes all current assets.

It may signal that a company is facing liquidity challenges, potentially struggling to cover its short-term liabilities with available cash.
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