In many cases, cash flow ratios signify a more accurate measurement of a stock’s value than the price to earnings ratio, P/E. Cash flow ratios examine the flow of money into a company, it can help to identify struggling companies and in turn, struggling stocks. Price to earnings is a very important ratio because when is very high or low, it usually makes a splash on the financial pages. Price to earnings ratio is valuable metric and can help a successful investor with his or her stock technical analysis, but it is only one technical analysis tool and should be considered as such. While the same can be said for each of the cash flow ratios, these give insight into the money coming in and going out of a company. A company can demonstrate earnings, but if more money is pouring out a company than pouring in, there will fiscal Continue reading
Financial Management Tools
Payback Period Method of Capital Budgeting
Payback Period Method The Payback period method of capital budgeting is popularly known as pay-off, pay out or replacement period methods also. It is the most popular and widely recognized traditional method of evaluating capital projects. Payback period method represents the number of years required to recover the original cash outlay invested in a project. It is based on the principle that every capital expenditure pays itself back over a number of years. It attempts to measure the period of time, it takes for the original cost of a project to be recovered from the additional earnings of the project. It means where the total earnings (or net cash inflow) from investment equals the total outlay, that period is the pay-back period. The standard recoupment period is fixed the management taking into account number of considerations. In making a comparison between two or more projects, the project having the lesser Continue reading
Financial Planning – Meaning, Objectives and Process
The financial planning refers to the projection of future financial course of action to be carried for efficient execution of operating plans and effective accomplishment of corporate objective. Financial planning begins with the preparation of strategic plans that in turn guides the formulation of operating plans and budgets. Financial planning provides road map for guiding, coordinating and controlling firm’s financial action in order to achieve the objectives. Therefore, a planning that spells out future course of action, budgets and capital expenditures required for execution of operating plans is known as financial planning. Objectives of the Financial Planning Most corporate organizations spend significant time and labor in preparing the financial plan as it enables a firm: To identify significant actions to be taken in various aspects of firm’s finance functions. To develop various options in the field of finance functions, which can be exercised as condition change. To state clearly the Continue reading
Activity Based Costing (ABC) – Definition, Benefits and Weakness
Traditional or Absorption Costing System reflects full cost pertaining to a product. It is easy to use and, therefore, is practiced widely. The allocation of overhead costs under the system is based on a rate determined by either a percentage of direct labor cost or number of labor hours worked or another. Therefore, the reported allocation of overheads for a given product may be incorrect. It is the main defect of absorption costing. During 1980’s, the limitations of absorption costing system were felt with severity. Companies were looking for a system that could reflect true product cost in order to fight competition. The absorption costing system was designed decades ago, when most companies produced narrow range of products. Further, overhead costs were small enough to make a big difference in the identification of cost of a product. This criticism of absorption costing led to generation of the idea of ABC Continue reading
4 Important Profitability Ratios Every Business Must Calculate
While profitability ratios evaluate a business overall financial performance through appraising its capability to produce revenues in surplus of service costs as well as other expenses. There are at least four profitability ratios, which they are gross profit margin, as well net profit margin, besides return on assets, in addition to return on equity. These ratios are used to assess performance and, with other data, forecast prospect profitability. Along with that is the future viability in addition to the soundness, which will repay loans as well as credit, additionally pay interest along with dividends. Since profits are divided amongst shares, the profit per share indicates possible dividend. 1. Gross Profit Margin It demonstrates how well the business is efficiently producing or else providing products as well as services. It shows how well products are priced given the proper otherwise variable costs it takes to create or even give them. The Continue reading
Dividend Decision – Meaning, Types, Theories and Influencing Factors
Meaning and Definition of Dividend Dividend is defined as the distribution of a portion of a company’s earnings, decided by the board of directors, to a class of its shareholders. The dividend is most often quoted in terms of the dollar amount each share receives (dividends per share). It can also be quoted in terms of a percent of the current market price, referred to as dividend yield. Dividend is a taxable payment declared by a company’s board of directors and given to its shareholders out of the company’s current or retained earnings, usually quarterly. Dividends are usually given as cash (cash dividend), but they can also take the form of stock (stock dividend) or other property. Dividends provide an incentive to own stock in stable companies even if they are not experiencing much growth. Companies are not required to pay dividends. The companies that offer dividends are most often Continue reading