Ratios Task
Ratios Task
Ratios Task
the current year. Assume that (1) the only effects on retained earnings are net income and cash
dividends for the year, and (2) only common stock dividends were declared (none for preferred stock).
Enter your amounts in the second column rounded to the nearest percent or nearest dollar, as
appropriate. For example, if your computation of a ratio is 249.38%, enter 2.49. Use the calculator
function available to you.
Working capital = current assets - current liabilities = (150 + 320 + 660 + 270) - (160 + 70
+ 210 + 300) = 1,400 - 740 = 660
Transactions may increase or decrease a particular ratio, or have no effect. The first column below
lists a transaction. The second column lists a ratio along with its value just before the indicated
transaction. In the third column, indicate the immediate effect of the transaction on the ratio by
double-clicking on the related cell and select increase, decrease, or no effect from the popup list
provided. For each transaction, assume that the dollar amount of the transaction is not significant in
relation to the absolute amounts in the numerator and denominator of the relevant ratio before the
transaction.
Rationale:
Purchase inventory on account: inventory (current asset) and accounts payable (current
liability) increase by the same amount. Current assets increase by a smaller percentage
because the numerator of the ratio before the transaction is larger than the denominator.
Therefore, the ratio decreases.
Pay accounts payable: cash (current assets) and accounts payable (current liabilities)
decrease by the same amount. Current assets decrease by a larger percentage because the
numerator before the transaction is smaller than the denominator. Therefore, the ratio
decreases.
Purchase inventory at year end (not sold): there is no effect on the numerator because cost
of goods sold is unaffected. However, the denominator, average inventory, is increased.
Therefore, the ratio is reduced.
Purchase marketable securities to be held as trading securities: current assets both
increase and decrease by the same amount. There is no effect on either the numerator or
denominator.
Record rent expense by reducing prepaid rent: prepaids are not included in quick assets.
There is no effect on either the numerator or denominator.