Analysing the Profitability and Liquidity of Super Retail Group Ltd (Sul) and the Reject Shop Ltd (Trs)

This report will analyse and outline the company’s profitability, liquidity, solvency and investment potentials based on 15 ratios. All information is taken from the Next plc 2011 statement.

Financial ratios are important in assessing the two companies’ performances. Referring to Exhibit A and B, we see that Sears relied heavily on debt financing. Although its 1997 ROE was high, it had a 300 days cash conversion cycle and a slow A/R turnover ratio. After evaluating various ratios, we concluded that the driving force behind Sears’ profitability was its proprietary card business. For a retailer, a strategy of using flexible payment options to boost sales is not a viable long term solution. The slow A/R turnover and negative operating cash flow cause concerns. On the other hand, Wal-Mart had a quick cash conversion cycle of 91 days, and a working capital turnover of 24/yr (vs.10/yr for Sears). These ratios represent a retail company with sound fundamental strategies, as well as the implementation and execution of those strategies. The financial ratios gave us insights into the companies’ operating and financing strategies, putting the two companies’ annual results into

The internal analysis of the company paints a picture of a firm that is well endowed with resources, both human and capital. The company boasts of an asset base of $11.4 billion according to the financial reports for the year 2012. This is huge, and it shows that the company is well grounded and has the capacity to gain a competitive edge in the highly competitive retail market in which it operates (Britton & Jorissen, 2007).

As mentioned in the introduction of the mini case, Hobby Horse Company, Inc. (HH) experienced a tough year in 2011. HH opened up a number of new stores but experienced a poor Christmas season. Christmas season is the biggest sale period for retail stores. As a result, bad Christmas sales performance played a big part of HH’s loss for year 2011. As we computed the financial ratios for HH, we can see the effects from new stores openings and poor sales performance.

The purpose of this term paper is to discuss the similarities and differences between Talbots Inc. ("Talbots") and Chico's FAS Inc. ("Chico's"). This paper will detail the nature of each company's respective business, past financial performance, and expected future outlook. The paper is divided into two sections. The first section will discuss each company's history, business structure, and future plans independently from each other. The second section will discuss several important financial ratios and provide a detailed analysis comparing the two companies. By the end of this analysis, the reader will have a better understanding of these two retailers and the industry in which they operate.

The purpose of this paper is to advise analyze the financial statements of Dillard’s, Inc. in order to recommend whether or not my client should invest $1 million in the large retail company. I will compare the financial statements of Dillard’s, Inc. its competitor, Kohl’s Corporation. Investing in retail can be risky because a retail company’s performance is very heavily influenced by factors that have nothing to do with the actual company such as the overall performance of the economy or the weather during the holiday shopping season. There is, however, potential for profitability within the retail sector. Based on my analysis, I recommend that the client should not invest in Dillard’s, Inc. for the following reasons. First, Dillard’s has experience a decline in net income in the last three years. Second, liquidity ratios indicate that they could face possible liquidity constraints in the future. Third, long-term debt paying ability ratios indicate that the company could have trouble paying off the principal of its current debt obligations. Fourth, the profitability ratios are well below industry averages, suggesting that there are more profitable companies to invest in within the industry. And finally, Investor analysis ratios provide mixed opinion of the future performance of the company. I conclude that retail can be a profitable industry to invest in if an investor has the risk tolerance and risk capacity to withstand the uncertainty, but neither Dillard’s

In the Table __ and Fig __, you can see how the company has been performing. The overall profitability of the company has increased. Profitability ratios have increased since 2010. In particular, Harvey Norman’s Gross Profit Margin saw a significant growth, it grew 44.7% since 2010. Operating Profit Margin saw a similar result, finishing with a ratio of 10.5 in Financial Year 2015. Harvey Norman’s Net Profit Margin (when positive), have been at best maximum and are further illustrative of the paper-thin margins typically associated with the retail sector. Investments of Return on Assets (ROA) and Return on Equity (ROE) were also substantial, comparing 2010 and 2015 there was a relative decrease in ROA and ROE which doesn’t make much of a difference if the Gross Profit Margin has a strong game. Thus, on the basis of the financial results over the last 6 years, shareholders would definitely be confident about investing in Harvey Norman, unless there is a decline in current asset and equity returns.

With the exception of ROE, most financial ratios and even absolute values bear testimony to Wal-Mart’s recognition as the leader in the retailing industry. The reason behind Sears’s higher ROE can be explained by a comparison of the 3 ratios that constitute the ratio known as DuPont identity that is profit margin, asset turnover and equity multiplier. While both firms had similar profit margins, Wal-Mart’s asset turnover was 2.8 compared to Sears’ 1.1 due to the firm’s effective utilization of assets and lease agreements to facilitate revenue generation.

Profitability ratios decreasing from 2005 to 2006 although the sales has increased substantially and the net income as well but not in the same percentage of increase due to the high reliance on debt as the interest expense increased as mentioned before.

This assignment will analyse and compare the financial performance between NEXT and DEBENHAMS by examining their latest Annual Reports. In order to conclude and comment on these two businesses, appropriate ratios will be calculated through the figures in their business financial statements and the information regarding their industry and market conditions in Annual Reports will also be analysed.

Support: As a % of revenue, the SG&A expense has decreased from 21% to 11% from 1996 to 1997, that’s aggressive considering the marketing activities the company carried out. This is associated with the year in which the company introduced a new product. Such years involve large expenses.

In vertical analysis, it is easier to see elements as a percentage of Revenue. Between 2011-12, the portion that cost of sales takes in revenue has increased however, there is a bigger deterioration in distribution cost. In 2011, 9.21% of revenue remains as profit but in 2012 this figure decreases to 8.14%. Despite reduction in costs is one of the strategies of Ted Baker(part 1.4), analysis illustrates that costs increase each year.

Leverage and liquidity ratios in respect to the O.M Scott & Sons Company vary widely. The overall liquidity of the company does not indicate that lack of cash will impede their operational ability. Although the current ratio increases to a high of 4.2999 in 1960, their ability to meet short-term obligations should not be affected. However, it may indicate that there is too much inventory or cash could be better spent in other areas of the business. The financial leverage ratio increases from a low of .5335 in 1957, to a high of 1.3928 in 1961. This change shows that the company is becoming more dependent on using debt to finance its assets.

Also, the gross profit had a lower increase(+9.67%), that means the cost of sales increased more than the revenue increase in term of percentage. There was a 13.16% rose in net operating expense as both selling and distribution costs and administrative expenses increased. One of the reasons why net operating expense increased because the firm had a programme of reinvesting for organic growth which supply chain, IT and store portfolio had improved. The rose of the net operating expense lead to a 2.13% drop in the operating

The purpose of this report is to compare and discuss the performance of Sainsbury and Morrison’s, check their performance as a food retailers and evaluate them on CORE framework analysis. The framework comprises four stages: context, overview, ratios and evaluation together with external and internal analysis which will help evaluate and compare two retail companies.