Reference no: EM132684325

Problem - Inventory analysis - Dell Inc. and Hewlett-Packard Company (HP) compete with each other in the personal computer market. Dell's primary strategy is to assemble computers to customer orders, rather than for inventory. Thus, for example, Dell will build and deliver a computer within four days of a customer entering an order on a Web page. Hewlett-Packard, on the other hand, builds some computers prior to receiving an order, then sells from this inventory once an order is received. Below is selected financial information for both companies from a recent year's financial statements (in millions):

	Dell Inc.	Hewlett-Packard Company
Sales	$61,101	$74,051
Cost of goods sold	50,144	56,503
Inventoory, beginning of period	1,180	7,879
Inventory, end of period	867	6,128

Required -

a1. Determine for both companies the inventory turnover. Round to one decimal place.

a2. Determine for both companies the number of days' sales in inventory. Round to one decimal place.

b. Interpret the inventory ratios by considering Dell's and Hewlett-Packard's operating strategies.