3. The following ratios and inventory levels are for the Sterling Company for each of the past 3 years:
Sterling Company
Ratio Analysis
Actual
Actual
Actual
Industry
Average
TS:âTime-series
Ratio
2007
2008
2009
2009
CS:â2009 vs. Industry Average
Current ratio
1.40
1.55
1.67
1.85
TS:
CS:
Quick ratio
1.00
0.92
0.88
1.05
TS:
CS:
Inventory turnover
9.52
9.21
7.89
8.60
TS:
CS:
Average collection
TS:
âperiod
45.6 days
36.9 days
29.2 days
35.5 days
CS:
Average payment
TS:
âperiod
59.3 days
61.6 days
53.0 days
46.4 days
CS:
Total asset turnover
0.74
0.80
0.83
0.74
TS:
CS:
Debt ratio
0.20
0.20
0.35
0.30
TS:
CS:
Times interest earned
8.2
7.3
6.5
8.0
TS:
CS:
Fixed payment
TS:
âcoverage ratio
4.5
4.2
2.3
4.2
CS:
Gross profit margin
0.30
0.27
0.25
0.25
TS:
CS:
Operating profit
TS:
âmargin
0.12
0.12
0.13
0.10
CS:
Net profit margin
0.062
0.062
0.066
0.053
TS:
CS:
Return on total
TS:
âassets
0.045
0.050
0.055
0.040
CS:
Return on common
TS:
âEquity
0.061
0.067
0.085
0.066
CS:
Earnings per share
TS:
â(EPS)
$1.75
$2.20
$3.05
$1.50
CS:
Price/earnings
TS:
â(P/E)
12.0
10.5
13.0
11.2
CS:
Market/book ratio
TS:
â(M/B)
1.20
1.05
1.01
1.10
CS:
a) In the last column above, indicate the following:
Under TS: indicate whether the performance improved or deteriorated over the years.
Under CS: indicate how the company performed overall against the industry average (poor, fair, better).
b) Analyze Sterlingâs overall financial situation from both a cross-sectional and a time-series viewpoint for the following areas:
- Liquidity performance
- Activity performance
- Debt performance
- Profitability performance
- Market performance
3. The following ratios and inventory levels are for the Sterling Company for each of the past 3 years:
Sterling Company | |||||
|
|
| Industry |
| |
Ratio | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2009 | CS:â2009 vs. Industry Average |
Current ratio | 1.40 | 1.55 | 1.67 | 1.85 | TS: |
CS: | |||||
Quick ratio | 1.00 | 0.92 | 0.88 | 1.05 | TS: |
CS: | |||||
Inventory turnover | 9.52 | 9.21 | 7.89 | 8.60 | TS: |
CS: | |||||
Average collection | TS: | ||||
âperiod | 45.6 days | 36.9 days | 29.2 days | 35.5 days | CS: |
Average payment | TS: | ||||
âperiod | 59.3 days | 61.6 days | 53.0 days | 46.4 days | CS: |
Total asset turnover | 0.74 | 0.80 | 0.83 | 0.74 | TS: |
CS: | |||||
Debt ratio | 0.20 | 0.20 | 0.35 | 0.30 | TS: |
CS: | |||||
Times interest earned | 8.2 | 7.3 | 6.5 | 8.0 | TS: |
CS: | |||||
Fixed payment | TS: | ||||
âcoverage ratio | 4.5 | 4.2 | 2.3 | 4.2 | CS: |
Gross profit margin | 0.30 | 0.27 | 0.25 | 0.25 | TS: |
CS: | |||||
Operating profit | TS: | ||||
âmargin | 0.12 | 0.12 | 0.13 | 0.10 | CS: |
Net profit margin | 0.062 | 0.062 | 0.066 | 0.053 | TS: |
CS: | |||||
Return on total | TS: | ||||
âassets | 0.045 | 0.050 | 0.055 | 0.040 | CS: |
Return on common | TS: | ||||
âEquity | 0.061 | 0.067 | 0.085 | 0.066 | CS: |
Earnings per share | TS: | ||||
â(EPS) | $1.75 | $2.20 | $3.05 | $1.50 | CS: |
Price/earnings | TS: | ||||
â(P/E) | 12.0 | 10.5 | 13.0 | 11.2 | CS: |
Market/book ratio | TS: | ||||
â(M/B) | 1.20 | 1.05 | 1.01 | 1.10 | CS: |
a) In the last column above, indicate the following:
Under TS: indicate whether the performance improved or deteriorated over the years.
Under CS: indicate how the company performed overall against the industry average (poor, fair, better).
b) Analyze Sterlingâs overall financial situation from both a cross-sectional and a time-series viewpoint for the following areas:
- Liquidity performance
- Activity performance
- Debt performance
- Profitability performance
- Market performance