Financial ratios for construction companies can be a key indicator of current performance and potential for future growth. No one ratio can truly tell the whole story of a company’s health. However, looking at several key ratios can help identify trends in the company and its overall well-being. Primary users of financial statements, including banks, bonding agents, insurance companies, and others, will usually be interested in this information. In addition, company management must ensure they fully understand these ratios before distributing their financials to avoid surprise by any concerns or follow-up questions.
5 Important Financial Ratios for Construction Companies
Here, we’ll explore several common ratios and how they can help you measure business performance and mitigate risk. The following are some key financial ratios for construction companies:
Current Ratio
This ratio compares current assets over current liabilities to determine how many times per year a company can pay its liabilities within the next 12 months. The company should have a ratio of at least 1.0 – 1.3 to ensure sufficient assets for covering liabilities as they become due.
Quick Ratio
This is a close relative of the current ratio, which includes all current assets in the calculation. However, the quick ratio just includes cash, cash equivalents, short term investments, and accounts receivable in the numerator. The denominator remains the same as the current ratio and includes all current liabilities. This ratio considers only assets that are cash or easily convertible to cash. A company is typically considered favorable when its quick ratio is between 1.1 and 1.5. This indicates that it has enough cash to cover its liabilities.
Debt-To-Equity Ratio
This ratio calculates how the growth of the company is financed through debt. In this instance, a person usually considers a ratio of 2.0 or lower favorable. As the ratio grows, it could signal that the company is financing its growth through too much debt and could become unsustainable.
Working Capital Turnover Ratio
A company uses the capital turnover ratio to identify its asset efficiency in generating sales. The company calculates the ratio by dividing the difference between current assets and current liabilities by its sales. For each dollar of working capital, a higher ratio generates more sales. However, a ratio above 30.0 could signal that the company may need more working capital to continue to grow in the future.
Equity Turnover Ratio
A company’s equity turnover ratio identifies how efficiently it generates sales using its assets. The company calculates its sales-to-equity ratio by dividing its sales figure by its total equity. Usually, a ratio above 15.0 may signal a company will have trouble growing in the future.
More Information
DiSanto, Priest & Co.’s experienced team of professionals can assist you in calculating, analyzing, and improving your financial ratios with a focus on maintaining your company’s health. For more information, call us at (401) 921-2000 or fill out our contact form.