Which statement describes the current ratio?

Which statement describes the current ratio?

• A. It measures a company's ability to meet short-term obligations
• B. It measures the return on equity
• C. It measures long-term solvency
• D. It measures the efficiency of inventory management

Answer: (A)

The current ratio is a liquidity measure that shows a company’s ability to meet its short-term obligations. It’s calculated by dividing current assets by current liabilities, with a higher ratio indicating stronger short-term solvency. This focuses on day-to-day financial health rather than profitability or long-term stability. Because current assets include items like inventory, the ratio can be affected by how quickly those assets can be converted to cash (hence why the quick ratio excludes inventory for a tighter test). In contrast, profitability metrics (like return on equity) and long-term solvency measures look at different aspects of financial health, and inventory-management efficiency is assessed by turnover or similar metrics.

The current ratio is a liquidity measure that shows a company’s ability to meet its short-term obligations. It’s calculated by dividing current assets by current liabilities, with a higher ratio indicating stronger short-term solvency. This focuses on day-to-day financial health rather than profitability or long-term stability. Because current assets include items like inventory, the ratio can be affected by how quickly those assets can be converted to cash (hence why the quick ratio excludes inventory for a tighter test). In contrast, profitability metrics (like return on equity) and long-term solvency measures look at different aspects of financial health, and inventory-management efficiency is assessed by turnover or similar metrics.