Accounts and finance

Table of Contents

1. Topic pack - Accounts and finance - introduction
2. 3.1 Sources of finance - notes
3. 3.1 Sources of finance - questions
4. 3.2 Investment appraisal - notes
5. Investment appraisal
6. 3.2 Investment appraisal - questions
7. 3.3 Working capital - notes
8. 3.3 Working capital - questions
9. 3.4 Budgeting - notes (HL only)
10. 3.4 Budgeting - questions
11. 3.5 Final accounts - notes
12. 3.5 Final accounts - questions
13. 3.5 Final accounts - simulations and activities
14. 3.6 Ratio analysis - notes
    1. Ratio analysis
    2. Profitability ratios
    3. Interpretation of profitability ratios
    4. Profitability - examples
    5. Liquidity ratios - introduction
    6. Current ratio
    7. Acid test ratio
    8. Efficiency ratios
    9. Efficiency ratios - ROCE
    10. Efficiency ratios - asset turnover ratio
    11. Efficiency ratios - stock turnover ratio
    12. Debtor days
    13. Creditor days
    14. Efficiency ratios - use and calculation
    15. Financial efficiency ratios - examples
    16. Shareholders' ratios
    17. Factors affecting share prices
    18. Gearing
    19. Ratio analysis - A summary
15. 3.6 Ratio analysis - questions
16. 3.6 Ratio analysis - simulations and activities
17. Printable version

Efficiency ratios - stock turnover ratio AO2, AO4

AO2 You need to be able to: Demonstrate application and analysis of knowledge and understanding Command Terms: These terms require students to use their knowledge and skills to break down ideas into simpler parts and to see how the parts relate: Analyse, Apply, Comment, Demonstrate, Distinguish, Explain, Interpret, Suggest

AO4 You need to be able to Demonstrate a variety of appropriate skills. Command Terms These terms require you to demonstrate the selection and use of subject-specific skills and techniques: Annotate, Calculate, Complete, Construct, Determine, Draw, Identify, Label, Plot, Prepare

Inventory In business jargon inventory refers to the stock a firm has in the business. Stock (inventory) specifically refers to raw materials, semi-finished products and products not yet sold.

The inventory (stock) ratio measures a firm's success in converting stock into sales.

Too high a stock turn may indicate that a firm is selling out of stock and cannot match customer demand, which may lead to dissatisfaction and customers going elsewhere.

When examining this ratio it should be borne in mind that different companies will have varying levels of stock turnover depending on what they produce and the industry in which they operate. The figure varies hugely. A market trader selling fruit and vegetables may sell his stock every one or two days - approximately 110 times per year. A ship or plane manufacturer may have a much lower stock turn. Clearly though, the profit generated on a sale of a ship will be far higher than on an apple!

Both of these are used in IB formulae sheet

OR

Both of these are used in IB formulae sheet

The first equation measures how many times in a period (usually the financial year) the firm turns over its stock. If you imagine a stock cupboard in the classroom full of products, then stock turn is the number of times the entire cupboard is sold.

The second equation shows the time it takes in days to turn over the total stock - or to the time taken to sell that stock cupboard. Firms only earn profit when they sell goods, so clearly the firm would want the lowest possible figure which would allow it to restock and sell again.

The ratio can be improved by holding less stock or by increasing sales. The firm may employ better stock control methods such as just-in-time production.

Problems arise from stock valuation itself. Are the items in stock really usable, or should they be written off? You must know the business, though, before you make comments about the level of stock. In some businesses the raw materials are seasonal, and can only be obtained once per year or the firm may buy in bulk to maximise discounts. Stocks then will average half a year's sales, and will seem excessive. There is nothing that can be done about it, unless the firm starts developing new sources of supply.

A supermarket, on the other hand, wants to get stocks in quickly, and then sell them fast. It does not want huge stocks, especially perishable products such as chilled foods.