BYP 18-4 DECISION MAKING ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION
The current ratio increase is a favorable indication as to liquidity, but
alone tells little about the going-concern prospects of the client. From
this ratio change alone, it is impossible to know the amount and direction
of the changes in individual accounts, total current assets, and total
current liabilities. Also unknown are the reasons for the changes.
The acid-test ratio decrease is an unfavorable indication as to liquidity,
especially when the current–ratio increase is also considered. This decline
is also unfavorable as to the going–concern prospects of the client because
it reflects a declining cash position and raises questions as to reasons
for the increases in other current assets, such as inventories.
The increase in net income is a favorable indicator for both solvency
and going-concern prospects, although much depends on the quality of
receivables generated from sales and how quickly they can be converted
into cash. If there has been a decline in sales, a significant factor is that
management has been able to reduce costs to produce an increase in
earnings. Indirectly, the improved income picture may have a favorable
impact on solvency and going-concern potential by enabling the client
to borrow currently (if it needs to do so) to meet cash requirements.