You are analyzing ABC Company, a computer manufacturer. You notice that inventory turnover this year is significantly lower than in prior years. You also notice that accounts receivable turnover is significantly lower this year when compared to previous years. Provide three explanations that would be consistent with your observation for inventory turnover and include an explanation of whether these would be of concern to you, as well as what the effect might be on the next period's financial results. In addition, provide three explanations that would be consistent with your observation of the accounts receivable turnover, and explain whether these would be of concern to you.

Answer:

ABC Company

1. Observation: Current year's inventory turnover is significantly lower than those of previous years.

Explanations:

1. Lower inventory turnover implies weaker sales for the current period than those of previous years.

2. Lower inventory turnover results from excessive inventory, which increases storage costs and interest expenses.

3. The ratio may also indicate that the demand for the product is declining rapidly.  Many reasons can be adduced for this situation.  Little marketing efforts, bad product, and lack of product competitiveness.

a) The formula for computing the inventory turnover equals Cost of goods sold/Average Inventory.  The ratio shows the number of times goods are sold in a period.  When goods are sold more frequently, sales activities increase, including revenue and profit.

2. Observation: Also current year's accounts receivable turnover is significantly lower than in previous years.

Explanations:

1. Billing inefficiency can contribute to lower accounts receivable turnover.

2. Poor credit policy may give rise to inefficient collection process, excessive bad debts, long credit days, bad customers, and lack of incentives to customers to settle their invoices.

3. Lastly, lower accounts receivable turnover may point to declining demand of the product by customers.

b) The formula for calculating the accounts receivable turnover is Net Credit Sales divided by Average receivables.  The ratio determines the effectiveness of the company's credit policy.

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