The ratios above intended to describe is how efficiently, or intensively, a firm uses its assets to generate sales and convert its current assets into cash.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is: Activity Ratios.
Explanation:
Activity ratios—also called efficiency ratios—are financial metrics used to evaluate how effectively a company utilizes its assets to generate sales or cash. These ratios are essential in understanding how well a firm manages its operational resources.
The key purpose of activity ratios is to measure how quickly and efficiently a company is turning over its assets—such as inventory, receivables, and fixed assets—into revenue. These ratios give insights into operational performance, especially in areas like inventory management, accounts receivable collection, and use of fixed assets.
Some common activity ratios include:
- Inventory Turnover Ratio: $$
\text{Inventory Turnover} = \frac{\text{Cost of Goods Sold (COGS)}}{\text{Average Inventory}}
$$ This shows how many times inventory is sold and replaced during a period. A higher turnover indicates efficient inventory management. - Receivables Turnover Ratio: $$
\text{Receivables Turnover} = \frac{\text{Net Credit Sales}}{\text{Average Accounts Receivable}}
$$ This measures how effectively the firm collects on credit sales. A high ratio means quicker collection, which improves cash flow. - Asset Turnover Ratio: $$
\text{Asset Turnover} = \frac{\text{Net Sales}}{\text{Average Total Assets}}
$$ This measures how efficiently a company uses its total assets to generate sales. - Accounts Payable Turnover Ratio: $$
\text{Accounts Payable Turnover} = \frac{\text{COGS}}{\text{Average Accounts Payable}}
$$ This indicates how quickly a company pays its suppliers.
In summary, activity ratios help managers and investors assess whether a company is making optimal use of its resources. Efficient firms typically have higher activity ratios, reflecting faster inventory movement, prompt collection of receivables, and productive asset usage—all contributing to improved liquidity and profitability.