Describe the limitations of ratio analysis

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Reference no: EM13500693

Question A

Below are extracts from the financial statements of a listed company which operates a chain of bakery and sandwich retail outlets in the United Kingdom.

Income statements

 

2009
£'000

2008
£'000

Revenue

658,186

628,198

Cost of sales

(252,284)

(241,939)

Gross profit

405,902

386,259

Distribution costs

(321,686)

(309,735)

Administrative expenses

(35,783)

(35,944)

Other income

-

8,033

Operating profit

48,433

48,613

Interest receivable and similar income

346

857

Profit before taxation

48,779

49,470

Taxation

(14,405)

(15,375)

Profit for the year

34,374

34,095

 

 

Balance sheets

 

2009
£'000

2008
£'000

Non-current assets

 

 

Intangible assets

579

686

Property, plant and equipment

211,155

210,455

 

 

 

Current assets

 

 

Inventories

11,886

12,152

Trade and other receivables

21,206

22,698

Cash and cash equivalents

34,619

4,433

 

 

 

Current liabilities

 

 

Trade and other payables

(71,738)

(62,761)

Current tax liabilities

(8,857)

(8,337)

Provisions for liabilities and charges

(857)

(2,843)

 

 

 

Net current liabilities

(13,741)

(34,658)

Non-current liabilities

 

 

Other payables

(30,460)

(26,108)

Provisions for liabilities and charges

(3,296)

(2,428)

 

 

 

Net assets

164,237

147,947

Capital and reserves

 

 

Share capital

2,080

2,080

Share premium account

13,533

13,533

Other reserves

359

359

Retained earnings

148,265

131,975

Total equity

164,237

147,947

 

Cash flow statements

 

 

2009
£'000

2008
£'000

Cash flows from operating activities

 

 

Cash generated from operations

87,944

59,163

Tax paid

(14,731)

(14,807)

Net cash generated from operating activities

73,213

44,356

Cash flows from investing activities

 

 

Purchase of property, plant and equipment

(30,296)

(40,758)

Purchase of intangible assets

-

(686)

Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment

2,368

2,200

Interest received

346

857

Net cash used in investing activities

(27,582)

(38,387)

Cash flows from financing activities

 

 

Sale of own shares

1,182

698

Shares purchased and cancelled

-

(9,738)

Dividends paid

(15,339)

(14,535)

Other financing cash flows

1,087

8,083

Net cash used in financing activities

(13,070)

(15,492)

Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

32,561

(9,523)

Notes:

 

  • The market value of the company's shares at the year end was £4.37 (2008:£3.50). 
  • Share capital consists of 104 million shares with a nominal value of 2p per share.

 

Requirement:

 

a)         Prepare a report describing how the liquidity of the company has changed between 2008 and 2009. Comment on why these changes may have occurred. What possible changes in the business's activities and /or efficiency may have had an effect on the changes in liquidity? You should use appropriate ratios in your analysis.

 

b)         Imagine you are a prospective investor in this company's shares.  Calculate 3 investor ratios for 2009 and 2008 which would help you to decide whether to invest, and briefly explain the meaning of each one.

c)         Describe the limitations of ratio analysis using published financial statements.

d)         Two user groups of financial statements are competitors and employees.  Illustrating your answer with examples for each user group, explain what aspects of the company's position, performance and cash flows these user groups might focus on and why.

e)         The accounting policies note is a useful source of information in a company's financial statements.  Give examples of what information from the accounting policies note users of this company's financial statements might find useful and why.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reference no: EM13500693

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