Signal Cable Company



Signal Cable Company

1. Why has the stock price fallen despite the fact that the net income has increased?

Although Signal has made a net profit that is higher than that of the previous year, its net profit margin is lower (6.98% vs. 7.43%). Most of this decrease has been caused by the significant increase in debt in 2004 resulting in much higher interest expenses ($111,000 higher than 2003). Higher debt is not necessarily bad, if profitability is proportionately higher as well. However, the interest coverage ratio of this firm has dropped considerably from 5.72 in 2003 to 2.54 in 2004. Stock prices are affected by earnings as well as by risk expectations. The drop in price is an indication that investors are concerned about the increased risk of high debt.

2. How liquid would you say that this company is? Calculate the absolute liquidity of the firm. How does it compare with the previous year's liquidity position?

Liquidity is defined as the ability of converting an asset into cash without significant loss of value. A firm’s liquidity refers to its ability to pay its short-term bills and current liabilities by converting its current assets into cash. Liquidity is also referred to a firm’s short-term solvency. There are various measures of liquidity such as the current ratio, the quick ratio, the cash ratio, the ratio of net working capital to total assets, and the interval measure.

| | |2004 |2003 |

|Cash Ratio | |0.0056 |0.113 |

|Current Ratio | | 2.06 | 2.51 |

|Quick Ratio | | 0.61 | 0.68 |

|NWC to TA | |0.33 |0.43 |

|Interval Ratio | |426.99 |236.07 |

|Absolute Liquidity = NWC | | 950,450 | 535,000 |

| | | | |

The above ratios indicate that although the absolute liquidity (Net working Capital) of the firm has increased in 2004, the relative liquidity of the firm has decreased. The current ratio has significantly declined. However, the liquidity situation is not critical because, as the interval measure indicates, the firm could continue operating for at least another 427 days if its cash inflows began to dry up. This interval coverage has increased significantly from its level in 2003. Thus one can conclude that although the relative liquidity condition of the company has deteriorated since 2003, it is not critically low.

3. How does the market value of the stock compare with its book value? Is the book value accurately reflecting the true condition of the company?

Signal’s Market Value = Current Stock Price X 200,000 shares

Signal’s Book Value in 2003= (Total Assets – Total Liabilities) = Shareholders’ Equity

= $1,247,000-$555,000

= $692,000

Signal’s 2003 Book Value per share = $792,170/200,000 shares = $3.46

Signal’s Book Value in 2004 = (Total Assets – Total Liabilities) = Shareholders’ Equity

= $2,913,450-$2,121,280

= $792,170

Signal’s 2004 Book Value per share = $792,170/200,000 shares = $3.96

The book value per share rarely equals the market value per share. In the case of Signal, the stock price is higher than its book value since it has been growing and has had a run up of sales and profits over the past few years. The drop in price recently reflects the increased risk due to higher debt levels and the lower relative liquidity position of the company. Although the book value per share has increased slightly in 2004 ($3.96 vs. $3.46), it is the market value that reflects the true condition of the company.

4. The board of directors is not clear as to why the cash balance has dropped so much despite the increase in sales and the gross profit margin. What should Jay tell the board?

In order to ascertain why the cash balance has dropped so much, it would be necessary to do a Statement of Cash Flows for 2004.

|Signal Cable Company |

|2004 Statement of Cash Flows |

| | | | |

|Cash at beginning of year 2004 | | | $ 40,000 |

| | | | |

|Operating activity | | | |

|Net income | | | 143,100 |

|Plus: | | | |

|Depreciation | | | 79,000 |

|Increase in accounts payable | | | 90,000 |

| | | | |

|Less: | | | |

|Increase in accounts receivable | | | (340,000) |

|Increase in inventory | | | (650,450) |

|Net cash from operating activity | | | (678,350) |

| | | | |

|Investment activity | | | |

|Fixed asset acquisitions | | | (790,000) |

|Net cash from investment activity | | | (790,000) |

| | | | |

|Financing activity | | | |

|Increase in notes payable | | | 450,000 |

|Increase in long-term debt | | | 1,026,280 |

|Dividends paid | | | (42,930) |

|Increase in common stock | | | - |

|Net cash from financing activity | | | 1,433,350 |

| | | | |

|Net decrease in Cash | | | (35,000) |

| | | | |

|Cash, end of year | | | $ 5,000 |

The statement of cash flows shows that the firm has invested heavily in accounts receivable, inventories and fixed assets. These investments were only partially funded by an increase in payables and retained earnings. Signal Cable borrowed $1.47million worth of short and long-term debt and drew down on its cash reserves to fund the balance. Thus, although sales went up and cost of goods sold declined, the acquisition of assets and business expansion activities led to a reduction in the cash balance.

5. Measure the free cash flow of the firm. What does it indicate?

The free cash flow (FCF) of a firm (also known as cash flow from assets) indicates how much cash a firm can freely distribute to its creditors and stockholders. It is cash that is not needed for working capital or fixed asset investments. Free cash flow is measured as follows:

FCF = Operating cash flow – Net capital spending – Change in net working capital

Where: Operating Cash flow (OCF) = Earnings before interest and taxes

+Depreciation

-Taxes

Net Capital Spending (NCS)= Ending Net Fixed Assets

-Beginning Net Fixed Assets

+Depreciation

Change in Net Working Capital = Ending NWC – Beginning NWC

OCF = $393,500 + $79,000 – $95,400 = $377,100

NCS = $1,068,000 - $357000 + $79,000 = $790,000

Change in NWC = [($1,845,450- $895,000)- ($890,000-$355,000)]

=[$950,450 – $535,000]

=$415,450

Free Cash Flow = $377,100 -$790,000 – $415,450

= -$828,350

Signal Cable had a negative amount of free cash flow in 2004 primarily due to its increase in net capital spending and net working capital. A negative free cash flow means that the amount of net new borrowing and equity would have increased.

Let’s check…

Net increase in Long-term debt = $1,226,280 – $200,000 = $1,026,280

Dividends and interest paid = $42,930+$155,000 = $197,930

Net amount of additional capital raised = $1,026,280 – $197,930 = $828,350

The free cash flow calculation shows that Signal cable raised additional long-term debt to

fund its increase in net fixed assets and net working capital.

6. Calculate the net working capital of the company for each of the two years. What can you conclude about the firm's net working capital?

2003 2004

Current Assets $890,000 $1,845,450

- Current Liabilities 355,000 895,000

= Net Working Capital 535,000 950,450

Signal Cable has significantly increased its net working capital (almost 78% higher) in 2004.

7. Should the shareholders be concerned about the drop in cash flow or should they be happy that the earnings per share have increased? Explain your answer.

The shareholders are rightly concerned about the drop in cash flow and net profit margin. The decline in cash flow is usually an early warning signal and the managers should take the necessary steps to alleviate the resulting deterioration of the firm’s liquidity.

Financial Analysis Ratio

Bigger Isn’t Always Better!

|Table I |

|Quickfix Autoparts |

|Balance Sheet |

| | | | | | | |

| | |2000 |2001 |2002 |2003 |2004 |

|ASSETS | | | | | | |

|Cash and marketable | | | | | |

| securities | |$155,000 |$309,099 |$75,948 |$28,826 |$18,425 |

|Accounts receivable |10,000 |12,000 |20,000 |77,653 |90,078 |

|Inventory | |250,000 |270,000 |500,000 |520,000 |560,000 |

| | | | | | | |

| Current assets |$415,000 |$591,099 |$595,948 |$626,480 |$668,503 |

| | | | | | | |

|Land, buildings, plant, | | | | | |

| and equipment | |$250,000 |$250,000 |$500,000 |$500,000 |$500,000 |

|Accumulated depreciation |(25,000) |(50,000) |(100,000) |(150,000) |(200,000) |

| | | | | | | |

| Net fixed assets |$225,000 |$200,000 |$400,000 |$350,000 |$300,000 |

| | | | | | | |

|Total assets | |$640,000 |$791,099 |$995,948 |$976,480 |$968,503 |

| | | | | | | |

|LIABILITIES AND EQUITIES | | | | | |

|Short-term bank loans |$50, 000 |$145,000 |$140,000 |$148,000 |$148,000 |

|Accounts payable |10,000 |10,506 |19,998 |15,995 |16,795 |

|Accruals | |5,000 |5,100 |7,331 |9,301 |11,626 |

| | | | | | | |

| Current liabilities |$65,000 |$160,606 |$167,329 |$173,296 |$176,421 |

| | | | | | | |

|Long-term bank loans |$63,366 |$98,000 |$196,000 |$190,000 |$183,000 |

|Mortgage | |175,000 |173,000 |271,000 |268,000 |264,000 |

| | | | | | | |

| Long-term debt |$238,366 |$271,000 |$467,000 |$458,000 |$447,000 |

| | | | | | | |

| Total liabilities |$303,366 |$431,606 |$634,329 |$631,296 |$623,421 |

| | | | | | | |

|Common stock (100,000 shares) |$320,000 |$320,000 |$320,000 |$320,000 |$320,000 |

|Retained earnings |16,634 |39,493 |41,619 |25,184 |25,082 |

| | | | | | | |

| Total equity | |$336,634 |$359,493 |$361,619 |$345,184 |$345,082 |

| | | | | | | |

|Total liabilities | | | | | |

| and equity | |$640,000 |$791,099 |$995,948 |$976,480 |$968,503 |

| Table II |

| |

|Quickfix Autoparts |

|Income Statement |

| | | | | | | |

| | |2000 |2001 |2002 |2003 |2004 |

| | | | | | | |

|Net sales | |$600,000 |$655,000 |$780,000 |$873,600 |$1,013,376 |

|Cost of goods sold |480,000 |537,100 |655,200 |742,560 |861,370 |

| | | | | | | |

| Gross profit | |$120,000 |$117,900 |$124,800 |$131,040 |$152,006 |

| | | | | | | |

|Admin and selling exp |$30,000 |$15,345 |$16,881 |$43,680 |$40,535 |

|Depreciation | |25,000 |25,000 |50,000 |50,000 |50,000 |

|Miscellaneous expenses |2,027 |3,557 |5,725 |17,472 |15,201 |

| | | | | | | |

| Total operating exp |$57,027 |$43,902 |$72,606 |$111,152 |$105,736 |

| | | | | | | |

| EBIT | |$62,973 |$73,998 |$52,194 |$19,888 |$46,271 |

| | | | | | | |

|Interest on ST loans |$15,000 |$15,950 |$14,000 |$13,320 |$13,320 |

|Interest on LT loans |8,000 |7,840 |15,680 |15,200 |14,640 |

|Interest on mortgage |12,250 |12,110 |18,970 |18,760 |18,480 |

| | | | | | | |

| Total interest |$35,250 |$35,900 |$48,650 |$47,280 |$46,440 |

| | | | | | | |

| Before-tax earnings |$27,723 |$38,098 |$3,544 |($27,392) |($169) |

|Taxes | |11,089 |15,239 |1,418 |(10,957) |(68) |

| | | | | | | |

|Net income | |$16,634 |$22,859 |$2,126 |($16,435) |($102) |

| | | | | | | |

|Dividends on stock |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |

| | | | | | | |

|Additions to | | | | | | |

| retained earnings |$16,634 |$22,859 |$2,126 |($16,435) |($102) |

| | | | | | | |

|EPS (100,000 shares) |$0.17 |$0.23 |$0.02 |($0.16) |($0.00) |

| | | | | | | |

1. How does Quickfix’s average compound growth rate in sales compare with its earnings growth rate over the past five years?

Quickfix’s sales have increased by an average compound rate of 14% per year over the past five years. In comparison, its net income has declined from over $16,600 in 2000, to a loss of $102 in 2004.

2. Which statements should Juan refer to and which should he construct so as to develop a fair assessment of the firm’s financial condition? Explain why?

Juan should refer to the income statement and the balance sheet over the past 3-5 year period. In addition, he should prepare a cash flow statement, common size income statement and common size balance sheet. The accounting statements provide the raw data from which the other statements can be prepared. The cash flow statement helps determine where the cash came from and where it was spent during a year. The common size statements provide useful information regarding the relative trends of the various assets, liabilities, revenue sources, and expense items. They also help the analyst make meaningful comparisons between firms of varying sizes.

3. What calculations should Juan do in order to get a good grasp of what is going on with Quickfix’s performance?

Juan should calculate the various liquidity, leverage, profitability, activity, and coverage ratios for at least a three-year period. In addition, a Du Pont analysis of the return on equity will help determine what has affected the profitability of the company.

4. Juan knows that he should compare Quickfix’s condition with an appropriate benchmark. How should he go about obtaining the necessary comparison data?

Based on Quickfix’s industry classification code, Juan should collect industry averages of the key financial ratios. Some useful sources for industry ratios include: Value Line, Moody’s, Standard & Poor, and Dun & Bradstreet. In addition to the industry average, the industry leaders (within the size category) ratios could also be collected from the Internet (e.g. ) and used for comparison.

5. Besides comparison with the benchmark what other types of analyses could Juan perform to comprehensively analyze the firm’s condition?

Perform the suggested analyses and comment on your findings.

Besides comparison with the benchmark, Juan could perform common size analyses of the financial statements and a DuPont analysis of the return on assets and the return on equity.

|Quickfix Autoparts |

|Common Size Income Statement |

|  |  |

| Balance Sheet | |

| | |

|  |  |2000 |2000% |2001 |2001% |

| | | | | | | |

|Net Profit Margin | |2.77% |3.49% |0.27% |-1.88% |-0.01% |

|Total Asset Turnover | |0.9375 |0.827962 |0.7831734 |0.894642 |1.046332329 |

|Equity Multiplier | |1.901175 |2.200596 |2.7541363 |2.828868 |2.806587999 |

| | | | | | | |

|Return on Assets | |2.60% |2.89% |0.21% |-1.68% |-0.01% |

| | | | | | | |

|Return on Equity | |4.94% |6.36% |0.59% |-4.76% |-0.03% |

| | | | | | | |

Quickfix Auto’s ROA is currently negative but has improved since 2003. Most of the decrease has come from the deteriorating profit situation. The firm’s total asset turnover has improved consistently since 2002.

The firm’s ROE has suffered significantly since 2001. This has occurred largely due to the steep drop in net profit margin. Had the firm not had such a high equity multiplier (from its high level of debt), the ROE situation would have looked considerably worse.

6. Comment on Quickfix’s liquidity, asset utilization, long-term solvency, and profitability ratios. What arguments would have to be made to convince the bank that they should grant Quickfix the loan?

| | |2000 |2001 |2002 |2003 |2004 |

| | | | | | | |

|Current Ratio | |6.38 |3.68 |3.56 |3.62 |3.79 |

|Quick Ratio | |2.54 |2.00 |0.57 |0.61 |0.62 |

|Cash Ratio | |2.38 |1.92 |0.45 |0.17 |0.10 |

|Total Debt Ratio | |0.47 |0.55 |0.64 |0.65 |0.64 |

|Debt-Equity Ratio | |0.90 |1.20 |1.75 |1.83 |1.81 |

|Equity Multiplier | |1.90 |2.20 |2.75 |2.83 |2.81 |

|Times Interest Ratio | |1.79 |2.06 |1.07 |0.42 |1.00 |

|Cash Coverage Ratio | |2.50 |2.76 |2.10 |1.48 |2.07 |

|Inventory Turnover ratio | |1.92 |1.99 |1.31 |1.43 |1.54 |

|Days sales in Inventory | |190.10 |183.49 |278.54 |255.60 |237.30 |

|Receivables Turnover | |60.00 |54.58 |39.00 |11.25 |11.25 |

|ACP or Days' Sales in Receivables | |6.08 |6.69 |9.36 |32.44 |32.44 |

|Total Asset Turnover | |0.94 |0.83 |0.78 |0.89 |1.05 |

|Capital Intensity | |1.07 |1.21 |1.28 |1.12 |0.96 |

|Profit Margin | |2.77% |3.49% |0.27% |-1.88% |-0.01% |

|ROA | |2.60% |2.89% |0.21% |-1.68% |-0.01% |

|ROE | |4.94% |6.36% |0.59% |-4.76% |-0.03% |

Liquidity:

The firm’s overall liquidity is quite good with a current ratio of 3.79 and it has improved quite a bit over the past three years. However, much of its current assets are tied in inventory, since its quick ratio is only 0.62. The ability of the firm to pay off its current liabilities from its cash reserves is not very good either and has deteriorated significantly over the past five years.

Asset utilization:

The firm’s inventory turnover has declined considerably since 2000. There was some improvement in 2004, but there is still a lot of room for further improvement. The receivables turnover ratio has declined as well. An average collection period of 32 days is pretty high for a retail business. The total asset turnover although not very high is at its highest level in five years.

Long-term solvency:

Quickfix Auto’s debt ratio is 64% of total assets. Its debt level has gone up by almost 37% since 2000. Since the firm’s coverage ratios are fairly low, the firm’s financial structure can be considered to be fairly risky.

Profitability:

The firm’s profitability ratios have declined significantly in the past three years. The firm is currently making losses.

Arguments that can be made to get the loan:

Improving liquidity (current ratio) and total asset turnover.

Improving cash coverage and interest coverage ratios.

Proof of better inventory management system (if possible)

7. If you were the commercial loan officer and were approached by Andre for a short term loan of $25,000, what would your decision be?

Given the firm’s poor profitability and cash flow situation, I would not grant the loan. However, I would tell him that if he can demonstrate improvement in inventory management and better profitability over the next 2 quarters, we would reconsider.

8. What recommendations should Juan make for improvement, if any?

The firm needs to improve its inventory management, and credit collection policies. Further, the cost of sales and miscellaneous costs should be looked into and brought down more in line with its level in 2000. This will improve the liquidity and profitability of the company.

9. What kinds of problems do you think Juan would have to cope with when doing a comprehensive financial statement analysis of Quickfix Parts? What are the limitations of financial statement analysis in general?

General Problems

Selection of comparison benchmark

Accounting procedures differ.

Different fiscal year end

Seasonal businesses

Extraordinary gains/losses

Specific Problems

Selection of appropriate benchmark/ industry averages

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