Lifecycle of Public Private Partnership (PPP) Projects
In the previous articles, we have undertaken careful consideration of how public-private partnership (PPP) projects work. A lot of details have been provided about the execution stage of PPP projects. However, little is known about how these huge infrastructure projects come into being in the first place. In this article, we will have a closer […]
Gold vs. Bitcoin
Gold has always been the alternative asset class. Whenever people lose faith in the value of the stocks that they are holding or even in the value of any currency, they typically sell their holdings and invest the proceeds in gold. However, of late, Bitcoin has burst onto the scene. Gold is no longer the […]
Problems With Using Internal Rate of Return (IRR) for Investment Decision Making
In the past article we discussed about the concept of internal rate of return. We discussed how it could be used to make proficient investment decisions. In this article we will see the drawbacks and pitfalls of the Internal Rate of Return (IRR) number. We will see how these problems make it a number that […]
How are Broadcasting Rights Revenue Split Amongst Franchises?
In the previous article, we have already seen the importance of broadcasting revenue. We also know what the shortcomings of broadcasting revenue are. However, in this article, we will have a closer look at a bigger problem which is how the revenue generated by the sale of broadcasting rights should be split between various stakeholders. […]
The Case for a Bank Based Financial System
Most economists in the world believe that the market system is the most efficient way of allocating resources. However, there are some economists who believe that a German-style bank-based financial system has considerable merits over the market-based system. These economists believe that empirical reasoning is not valid when it comes to gauging the efficacy of […]
A company is said to be more efficient when it keeps the least inventory on hand to make the sales it does. The systems of the company must be so efficient that goods are available for sale as and when required and spend the least amount of time waiting in a warehouse. This is because inventory has many costs associated with it. Until earlier it was known as the necessary evil. Not only is capital locked in inventory creating an opportunity cost, there are other costs involved like warehousing, security, insurance, pilferage and so on.
The idea that inventory should be minimized if not eliminated caught the fancy of management gurus from 1980’s onwards. Japanese companies showed how they could produce efficiently at lower costs by implementing Just in Time inventory systems. Many years later, Michael Dell revolutionized the computer industry with his made-to-order business model that enabled him to function with zero inventories and earning almost double the profits that entrenched competitors with deep pockets could manage.
Since inventory is such a make or break item in the financials of a company, there is obviously an interest amongst analysts and investors who want to have a close watch on its performance. Hence, the inventory turnover ratio is amongst their favorites. This article explains the inventory turnover ratio in detail.
Inventory Turnover Ratio = Cost Of Goods Sold / Average Inventory*
Like all ratios, inventory turnover ratio also needs the same context for the numbers to become meaningful. It needs to be compared with the performance of others. Usually the comparison is done between:
Caution must be exercised by the analysts in drawing conclusions based on the inventory turnover ratio. Sometimes companies buy large amounts of inventories to beat the forthcoming price hikes. This may show up as an increasing inventory turnover ratio but may not be a bad signal in reality.
Also analysts must be wary of change in inventory policies before calculating and interpreting this ratio.
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