Financial ratios are quantitative measures used to evaluate the financial performance and health of a business. They are derived from the company’s financial statements, particularly the balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement. Financial ratios provide insights into various aspects of a company’s operations, such as profitability, liquidity, efficiency, and solvency.
Common types of financial ratios include:
1. **Liquidity Ratios**: Measure a company’s ability to meet its short-term obligations (e.g., current ratio, quick ratio).
2. **Profitability Ratios**: Evaluate a company’s ability to generate profit relative to its revenue, assets, or equity (e.g., return on equity, gross profit margin).
3. **Efficiency Ratios**: Assess how well a company uses its assets and liabilities to generate sales and maximize profits (e.g., inventory turnover, asset turnover).
4. **Solvency Ratios**: Indicate a company’s ability to meet its long-term debts and obligations (e.g., debt-to-equity ratio, interest coverage ratio).
Investors, analysts, and management often use these ratios to compare a company’s performance against its peers or industry standards, identify trends over time, and make informed decisions regarding investment, lending, or operational strategies.