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The And Construction Machinery Industry

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The Farm & Construction Machinery industry upholds an average of 27.98% for return on equity (Construction & Mining Machinery Industry, n.d.). Therefore, Caterpillar edges out the competition in regards to return on equity while falling short of the benchmark average for the industry.
Asset Utilization Ratios The asset utilization ratios consist of receivables turnover, average collection period, inventory turnover, fixed asset turnover, and total asset turnover. The Caterpillar ratio analysis will focus on receivables turnover and inventory turnover. Receivables turnover is a company 's total sales divided by receivables, while inventory turnover consists of sales divided by inventory Block, Hirt, & Danielsen, 2014, p. 63). …show more content…

Terex maintained a 6.73 ratio while Parker-Hannifin carried a 5.55 ratio. Furthermore, Caterpillar’s competitors were able to collect receivables faster than Caterpillar was capable of collecting on receivables owed. (Quotes & Info- Yahoo! Finance, n.d.). The industry standard for receivables turnover for Farm & Construction Machinery was 4.54% (Construction & Mining Machinery Industry, n.d.). Furthermore, Caterpillar’s competitors were capable of providing a superior ratio in the receivables turnover area, while Caterpillar fell short of the industry norm at a mere 2.98. Inventory Turnover Inventory turnover is also an asset utilization ratio determining how many times a company uses inventory in stock within a year (Block, Hirt, & Danielsen, 2014, p. 63). Caterpillar maintained an inventory ratio of 4.52 in 2014, 4.41 in 2013, and 4.24 in 2012. Therefore, they were able to use inventory on hand, approximately four times within a year. (Quotes & Info- Yahoo! Finance, n.d.). The competitors of Caterpillar, Terex and Parker-Hannifin, had an improved inventory turnover ratio. Terex carried a ratio of five, while Parker-Hannifin utilized a ratio of 9.63. Terex slightly edged out Caterpillar in the inventory turnover area, while Parker-Hannifin doubled the ratio of Caterpillar and fell short of doubling Terex. (Quotes & Info- Yahoo! Finance, n.d.). The Farm & Construction Machinery industry operates with an average

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