Academic Integrity: tutoring, explanations, and feedback — we don’t complete graded work or submit on a student’s behalf.

Gale & Co. has applied for a loan from the Trust Us Bank in order to invest in s

ID: 2619484 • Letter: G

Question

Gale & Co. has applied for a loan from the Trust Us Bank in order to invest in

several potential opportunities. In order to evaluate the firm as a potential debtor, the bank would like to compare Gale & Co. to the industry. The following are some key financial ratios

                                                            2016                2017                Industry Norm(2017)

Current Ratio                                      4.3X                5.7X                            5.0X

Quick Ratio                                         2.1X                2.8X                            3.0X

Inventory Turnover                            1.0X                1.3X                            2.2X

Average Collection Period                  90days                        78.3days                     90days

Debt Ratio                                          33%                 28%                             33%

Times Interest Earned                         5.0X                6.0X                            7.0X

Total Asset Turnover                         .46X                .54X                            .76X

Fixed Asset Turnover                         .92X                .99X                            1.0X   

Operating Profit Margin                     29.1%              25.6%                          20%

Net Profit Margin                               12.0%              14.6%                          16.3%

Return on Total Assets                      7.1%                7.5%                            9.0%

Basic Earning Power Ratio                 13.4%              13.7%                          15.0%

Return on Equity                                10.6%              10.4%                          13.4%

What are the firm’s financial strengths and weaknesses? Should the bank make the loan? Why or why not?

Explanation / Answer

The firm's financial strength are current ratio, Debt ratio, operating profit margin which are more than industry average. Expect Operating profit margin and ROE all the ratios have improved from 2016 to 2017.
Weakness of the firm are Inventory turnover which if improved can increase the profitability, times interest earned, total assets turnover which if improved can increase ROE, These ratios are below industry average even though they have increased from previous year.

The banks should give the loan give the ratios have improved from 2016 to 2017. Its debt ratio has reducd making the firm less risky than industry and also the times interest earned has also increased. So the repaying capacity of firm has increased even though it is less than industry average.

Best of Luck. God Bless