Accumulated profit is the amount of profit left after the payment of dividends to the shareholders. It is also known as retained earnings. It is the profit that is not distributed as dividends to shareholders, hence called retained earnings. This accumulated profit is an important source of internalRead more
Accumulated profit is the amount of profit left after the payment of dividends to the shareholders. It is also known as retained earnings. It is the profit that is not distributed as dividends to shareholders, hence called retained earnings. This accumulated profit is an important source of internal finance for a company. Accumulated profit or retained earnings can be ascertained using the following formula:
Accumulated profit = Opening balance of accumulated profit + Net Profit/Loss (loss being in the negative figure) – Dividend paid
Accumulated profit can be put to the following uses:
- To reinvest into the business in form of capital assets or working capital.
- To repay the debt of the company.
- To pay dividends in future.
- To set off the net loss made by the company.
Accumulated profit and reserves are often considered the same. But in substance, they are not. The reserves are actually part of the accumulated profit, but the converse is not true. They are created by transferring amounts from the accumulated profit. While reserves are created for purpose of strengthening the financial foundation of a firm, the accumulated profit’s main purpose is to make reinvest in the business to increase its growth.
The amount of accumulated profits depends upon the retention ratio and dividend payout ratio of a company. The retention ratio is the opposite of the dividend payout ratio.
The formula of dividend pay-out ratio = Dividend payable/Net Income
And retention ratio = 1 – (Dividend payable/Net Income)
If the retention ratio is more than the dividend payout ratio, the accumulated profit remains positive.
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No, they are not the same. They are both used to measure the short term liquidity of a business but their approach is different. Following are the differences between the two : Let’s take an example. Following is the balance sheet of X Ltd: Hence, as per the following information, Current Ratio = CuRead more
No, they are not the same. They are both used to measure the short term liquidity of a business but their approach is different. Following are the differences between the two :
Let’s take an example.
Following is the balance sheet of X Ltd:
Hence, as per the following information,
Current Ratio = Current Assets / Current Liabilities
= Inventories + Trade debtors + Bills receivables + Cash and bank + Prepaid Expenses / Trade Creditors + Bills Payables + Outstanding Salaries
= ₹85,000 + ₹2,50,000+ ₹95,000 + ₹1,50,000 + ₹10,000/ ₹2,00,000 + ₹75,000 + ₹25,000
= ₹6,00,000 / ₹3,00,000
= 2/1 or 2:1
Quick Ratio = Quick Assets / Current Liabilities
= Trade debtors + Bills receivables + Cash and bank / Trade Creditors + Bills Payables + Outstanding Salaries
= ₹2,50,000+ ₹95,000 + ₹1,50,000 / ₹2,00,000 + ₹75,000 + ₹25,000
= ₹5,05,000/ ₹3,00,000
= 41 / 25 or 1.68 : 1
Let’s discuss both ratios in detail.
1. Current ratio:
The current ratio represents the relationship between current assets and current liabilities
Current ratio = Current Assets/Current Liabilities
It measures the adequacy of the current assets to current liabilities. The main question this ratio tries to answer is: – “Does your business have enough current assets to meet the payment schedule of its current debts with a margin of safety for possible losses in current assets?”
The generally acceptable current ratio is 2:1. But it depends on the characteristics of the assets of a business to judge whether a specific ratio is satisfactory or not.
2. Quick Ratio: Quick ratio is the ratio between quick assets and current liabilities. It is also known as the Acid Test Ratio. By quick assets, we mean cash or the assets that can be quickly converted into cash ( near cash assets)
Quick Assets = Current Assets – Inventories – Prepaid assets
Quick ratio = Quick Assets/Current Liabilities
Inventories are not considered near cash assets.
The quick ratio is a more conservative approach than the current ratio to measure the short term liquidity of a firm.
It answers the question, “If sales revenues disappear, could my business meet its current obligations with the readily convertible quick funds on hands?”
1:1 is considered satisfactory unless the majority of the quick asset are accounts receivable and the receivables turnover ratio is low.
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