Liquidity Ratios

Liquidity ratios

Ratios that measure a firm's ability to meet its short-term financial obligations on time, such as the ratio of current assets to current liabilities.

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Cash Asset Ratio

A ratio of a company's cash and liquid assets to its total liabilities. A cash asset ratio measures a company's liquidity and how easily it can service debt and cover short-term liabilities if the need arises. As a result, potential creditors use this ratio in determining whether or not to make short-term loans. It is also called the liquidity ratio and the current ratio.

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Cash Ratio

1. A ratio of a company's cash and liquid assets to its total liabilities. A cash ratio is a measure of company's liquidity and how easily it can service debt and cover short-term liabilities if the need arises. As a result, potential creditors use this ratio in determining whether or not to make short-term loans. It is also called the liquidity ratio and the cash asset ratio.

2. In banking, a ratio of a bank's cash and cash equivalents to its demand deposits. See also: Reserve requirement.

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Liquidity Ratios

What Does Liquidity Ratios Mean?

A class of financial metrics used to help determine a company's ability to pay off its short-term debt obligations. Generally, the higher the value of the ratio is, the larger the margin of safety that the company possesses to cover short-term debts.

Investopedia explains Liquidity Ratios

Common liquidity ratios include the current ratio, the quick ratio, and the operating cash flow ratio. Different analysts consider different assets to be relevant in calculating liquidity. Some analysts calculate only the sum of cash and equivalents divided by current liabilities because they feel that they are the most liquid assets and therefore are the most likely to be used to cover short-term debts in an emergency. A company's ability to turn short-term assets into cash is of the utmost importance when creditors are seeking payment. Bankruptcy analysts and mortgage originators frequently use the liquidity ratios to determine whether a company will be able to continue as a going concern.

Related Terms:
• Acid-Test Ratio
• Cash and Cash Equivalents—CCE
• Current Ratio
• Liquidity
• Operating Cash Flow Ratio