How do you analyze a company's working capital?

@juston 

Analyzing a company's working capital is an important part of financial analysis as it provides insights into a company's liquidity, operational efficiency, and financial health. Here are the key steps to analyze a company's working capital:

1. Calculate working capital: Working capital is the difference between a company's current assets (such as cash, accounts receivable, inventory) and its current liabilities (such as accounts payable, accrued expenses). The formula is working capital = current assets - current liabilities.
2. Assess the trend: Compare the working capital over different periods to identify the trend. Positive working capital implies the company has enough short-term assets to cover its short-term obligations, while negative working capital indicates a potential liquidity or financial risk.
3. Evaluate liquidity: Working capital provides an indication of a company's ability to meet short-term obligations and cover operational expenses. Analyze the liquidity position by considering the current ratio (current assets ÷ current liabilities) and quick ratio (cash + accounts receivable ÷ current liabilities). Higher ratios suggest better liquidity.
4. Examine inventory management: High inventory levels can tie up working capital, while low inventory levels may lead to stockouts. Analyze the inventory turnover ratio (cost of goods sold ÷ average inventory) to measure the efficiency of inventory management. A higher ratio indicates faster inventory turnover and better utilization of working capital.
5. Assess receivables and payables: Analyze the accounts receivable turnover ratio (net credit sales ÷ average accounts receivable) to evaluate the effectiveness of collecting receivables. Similarly, consider the accounts payable turnover ratio (total purchases ÷ average accounts payable) to assess how well the company manages its payables. Efficient receivable and payable management can contribute to a healthier working capital position.
6. Compare industry benchmarks: Compare the working capital ratios with industry benchmarks to assess the company's performance in relation to its competitors. This provides insights into the company's relative liquidity position and operational efficiency.
7. Consider working capital management strategies: Analyze the company's working capital policies and strategies. For example, aggressive policies, such as tightening credit terms, can boost short-term cash flow but may impact customer relations. Conversely, conservative policies, such as holding excess inventory, can ensure customer satisfaction but tie up working capital.

By thoroughly analyzing a company's working capital, investors and analysts can gain a deeper understanding of its financial position, liquidity, and effectiveness in managing short-term resources.