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Google Finance’s DTRO (Days to Recover Outstanding Receivables) is not a directly provided metric. It’s an analytical figure you can calculate using information found on the platform and is related to financial statement analysis.
DTRO, sometimes called Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) or Average Collection Period, is a crucial indicator of how efficiently a company collects payments from its customers on credit. It essentially measures the average number of days it takes for a company to convert its accounts receivable into cash. A lower DTRO generally indicates better efficiency and a faster cash flow cycle.
Here’s how you can derive DTRO using data from Google Finance and subsequent calculations:
- Locate Financial Statements: On Google Finance, search for the company you’re analyzing. Navigate to the “Financials” section and choose the “Income Statement” and “Balance Sheet” views.
- Gather Necessary Data: You’ll need two key figures:
- Net Credit Sales: This information might not be directly available on Google Finance. You may need to review the company’s SEC filings (like 10-K or 10-Q) linked from Google Finance news or investor relations sections of the company’s website. If unavailable, and assuming most sales are on credit, use Total Revenue from the Income Statement as an approximation.
- Average Accounts Receivable: From the Balance Sheet, find the Accounts Receivable (AR) figure for the beginning and end of the period (e.g., beginning and end of the year for an annual calculation). Calculate the average by adding the beginning and ending AR and dividing by two. (Average AR = (Beginning AR + Ending AR) / 2)
- Calculate DTRO: Use the following formula:
DTRO = (Average Accounts Receivable / Net Credit Sales) * Number of Days in the Period
Typically, the period is a year (365 days) or a quarter (90 days).
Interpretation and Significance:
- Comparison to Industry Benchmarks: The DTRO is most valuable when compared to the average DTRO of other companies in the same industry. A significantly higher DTRO than the industry average may signal problems with the company’s credit policies, collection efforts, or the creditworthiness of its customers.
- Trend Analysis: Monitor the DTRO over time. A consistently increasing DTRO could indicate weakening financial health.
- Impact on Cash Flow: A high DTRO can tie up a significant portion of a company’s working capital, potentially hindering its ability to invest in growth or meet its financial obligations.
Limitations:
- Approximations: Using Total Revenue as a proxy for Net Credit Sales can distort the result, especially if a significant portion of sales are cash-based.
- Industry Specifics: The ideal DTRO varies greatly across different industries. A low DTRO for one industry might be considered high for another.
- Seasonal Fluctuations: DTRO can fluctuate seasonally, so it’s important to consider the period being analyzed and potential seasonal effects on sales and receivables.
In conclusion, while Google Finance doesn’t directly provide the DTRO metric, you can use the platform’s financial data to calculate it. Analyzing DTRO, along with other financial ratios, provides valuable insights into a company’s operational efficiency and financial health.
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