How do you evaluate a company's liquidity?

@london_lueilwitz 

Evaluating a company's liquidity involves assessing its ability to meet short-term financial obligations. This analysis is important to understand if a company has enough cash and other liquid assets to cover its immediate needs. Here are some key metrics and methods used to evaluate liquidity:

1. Current Ratio: This ratio compares a company's current assets to its current liabilities. It is calculated by dividing total current assets by total current liabilities. A higher current ratio (ideally above 1) indicates better liquidity.
2. Quick Ratio: Also known as the acid-test ratio, this ratio provides a more conservative measure of liquidity. It excludes inventory from current assets, focusing on quickly convertible assets like cash, marketable securities, and accounts receivable. The formula is (Cash + Marketable Securities + Accounts Receivable) / Current Liabilities. A quick ratio above 1 is generally considered good.
3. Cash Ratio: This ratio indicates the company's ability to pay off immediate obligations using only cash and cash equivalents. It is calculated by dividing cash and cash equivalents by current liabilities. A value above 1 shows a company has sufficient cash on hand.
4. Operating Cash Flow Ratio: This ratio measures a company's ability to generate cash from its operations, comparing its cash flows from operating activities to current liabilities. A healthy ratio (above 1) indicates strong liquidity.
5. Working Capital: It represents the difference between current assets and current liabilities. A positive working capital indicates a company can cover its short-term obligations, while negative working capital may suggest liquidity issues.
6. Cash Conversion Cycle: This metric evaluates the time it takes for a company to convert its investments in inventory and other resources into cash flows from sales. A shorter cycle indicates better liquidity.
7. Financial Ratios Analysis: Analyzing various financial ratios like debt ratio, debt-to-equity ratio, and interest coverage ratio can provide insights into a company's overall financial health and liquidity.

It's important to note that liquidity evaluation should be done in conjunction with other financial analysis methods and should be compared against industry benchmarks and historical data.