Intuit Inc. (NASDAQ:INTU)

The analysis of the liquidity ratios over the presented periods reveals several noteworthy trends and fluctuations, which provide insight into short-term financial stability and cash management.

Current Ratio

The current ratio exhibits considerable variability, starting at 1.41 in October 2018 and peaking at 3.09 in October 2020, indicating a strong liquidity position at that peak. After this high point, the ratio declines and fluctuates around the range of 1.1 to 1.5 from 2021 onward, generally maintaining a level above 1. This pattern suggests that while liquidity was temporarily very robust around late 2020, it normalized to a more moderate level in subsequent years. The overall trend indicates that current assets consistently exceed current liabilities, although the margin has narrowed somewhat in the most recent periods.

Quick Ratio

The quick ratio demonstrates a more pronounced fluctuation, with values increasing from 0.89 in October 2018 to a peak of 2.74 in October 2020. This peak aligns with the sharp increase observed in the current ratio, suggesting an increase in easily liquidatable assets during this period. Post-2020, the quick ratio declines substantially, reaching lows such as 0.54 in April 2025, which indicates a reduced level of liquid assets excluding inventories relative to current liabilities. The ratio largely remains below 1 in the latest reported quarters, highlighting a more conservative liquidity buffer when excluding inventory.

Cash Ratio

The cash ratio displays significant volatility, with an initial value of 0.84 in October 2018 and peaking at 2.69 in October 2020. This peak is consistent with the surges noted in both the current and quick ratios. Subsequently, the ratio declines sharply, even falling below 0.5 in several recent quarters, with notable lows such as 0.24 in January 2024. This decreasing trend suggests tighter liquidity strictly in terms of cash and cash equivalents relative to current liabilities, pointing to a possible strategic shift or operational changes impacting immediate cash holdings.

Overall, the liquidity ratios reflect a period of enhanced liquidity around late 2020, which may be attributable to specific strategic or operational factors during that timeframe. Following this period, there is a clear trend of declining liquidity across all three ratios, with the most recent quarters showing a leaner balance sheet from a liquidity standpoint. While the current ratio remains above 1, indicating the company can cover short-term obligations with current assets, the declines in the quick and cash ratios suggest less availability of liquid assets without relying on inventory or slower-to-liquidate assets. This necessitates ongoing monitoring to assess potential impacts on short-term financial flexibility.

Current Assets

The current assets exhibit a generally upward trend from October 2018 through April 2025, with notable fluctuations. Initially, a significant increase is observed between January 2019 (2,644 million) and April 2019 (4,249 million). This is followed by volatility, including a peak in July 2020 at 7,980 million and a subsequent decrease through early 2022. From mid-2022 onward, there is a renewed growth pattern, leading to the highest value in April 2025 at 13,965 million, suggesting enhanced liquidity or accumulation of short-term resources over the examined period.

Current Liabilities

Current liabilities also demonstrate growth over the analyzed period, albeit with notable variability. The figures rose from 1,586 million in October 2018 to a peak in January 2025 at 8,619 million. The data shows intermittent declines, such as from July 2020 to October 2020, and again in early 2024. Overall, the increasing trend in current liabilities indicates a rising short-term financial obligation burden over the timeframe, potentially reflecting expanded operational activities or increased short-term borrowing.

Current Ratio

The current ratio fluctuates considerably across periods, reflecting changes in liquidity relative to short-term obligations. Early on, the ratio increased from 1.41 in October 2018 to a peak of 3.09 in October 2020, indicating a strong liquidity position during that quarter. However, subsequent values trend downward and fluctuate mostly between 1.17 and 1.63, signifying a normalization or tightening liquidity position. The ratio remains above 1.0 throughout, implying that current assets consistently exceed current liabilities, though the degree of cushion varies. The decline from the high in late 2020 suggests that current liabilities have grown at a faster pace relative to current assets in recent years, reducing short-term financial flexibility.

Summary of Trends and Insights

Overall, current assets and current liabilities have both increased significantly over the period under review. The more moderate and fluctuating current ratio indicates a dynamic balance between asset liquidity and liability levels. Periods of strong liquidity are interspersed with quarters where the ratio drops closer to levels just above unity, likely due to the company managing working capital actively in response to operational demands or external market conditions. The large increases in both assets and liabilities could be associated with business growth, changing capital structure, or strategic financing activities. The persistence of a current ratio above 1 suggests maintained solvency in the short term, albeit with diminishing liquidity margin after the peak in 2020.

Total Quick Assets

The total quick assets exhibited notable fluctuations across the analyzed periods. Initially, there was a marked increase from 1,409 million US$ in October 2018 to a peak of 7,199 million US$ in July 2020. Following this peak, the figure decreased substantially to 3,203 million US$ by January 2021. Subsequently, the values appeared somewhat volatile but generally maintained a range between approximately 3,600 million US$ and 5,600 million US$ until July 2023. From this point onward, total quick assets demonstrated an upward trend, culminating at 8,223 million US$ in April 2025, with some intermediate fluctuations.

Current Liabilities

Current liabilities initially rose from 1,586 million US$ in October 2018 to 3,529 million US$ in July 2020, mirroring the period of increased quick assets. However, there was variability afterward, with a decrease to 2,138 million US$ in October 2021 followed by a sharp increase to 8,619 million US$ in January 2025. These fluctuations suggest periods of increased short-term obligations, particularly in the later periods from 2023 onward, where liabilities reached their highest levels in the dataset.

Quick Ratio

The quick ratio reflects the liquidity position relative to current liabilities. Initially, the ratio increased from 0.89 in October 2018 to a high of 2.74 in October 2020, indicating a strong liquidity cushion during that time. However, a substantial decline followed, with the quick ratio falling to 0.78 by January 2022 and further declining to a low point of 0.54 in January 2025. This downward trend indicates a reduction in immediate liquidity relative to current liabilities. There are intermittent recoveries, such as a rise to 1.0 in July 2024, but overall, recent periods show weaker liquidity coverage.

Overall Trends and Insights

The data shows a pattern of growth in both quick assets and current liabilities up to mid-2020, reflecting an expansion phase with increasing resources and obligations. Following this peak, fluctuations suggest a period of volatility in balancing liquidity and short-term obligations. The decline in the quick ratio in recent years signals potential pressure on the company’s ability to meet short-term liabilities with liquid assets. Increased current liabilities toward the end of the period, combined with less robust quick asset accumulation, may warrant closer attention to liquidity management and operational efficiency going forward.

The financial data reveals several notable trends regarding liquidity and current liabilities over the analyzed quarters.

Total Cash Assets

Total cash assets demonstrate significant fluctuations over the period. Initially, from late 2018 to early 2019, cash assets increased sharply, peaking at 7,050 million US dollars by mid-2020. Following this peak, there is a general downward trend with periodic recoveries, but cash levels never again reach their previous high. By early 2025, cash assets mature at approximately 6,174 million US dollars, indicating an overall increase compared to the start but with substantial volatility in between.

Current Liabilities

Current liabilities show a consistent upward trajectory across the quarters. Starting at 1,586 million US dollars in late 2018, these liabilities rise steadily with occasional faster increments, culminating in a peak of 9,654 million US dollars near the start of 2025. This trend highlights increasing short-term financial obligations, possibly reflecting expanded operations, greater short-term debt, or accrued expenses.

Cash Ratio

The cash ratio, a measure of liquidity indicating the ability to cover current liabilities with cash assets, varies considerably over time. Early quarters show relatively stable ratios near or exceeding 1.0, suggesting adequate liquidity. The ratio peaks at 2.69 around late 2020, showing significant excess cash relative to liabilities. However, from 2021 onward, the ratio generally declines, dropping below 0.5 in several later quarters, and reaching lows near 0.24 to 0.39 in late 2023 and early 2025. This decreasing trend implies a weakening liquidity position when comparing cash on hand to short-term liabilities, potentially increasing financial risk.

In summary, while total cash assets exhibit sporadic highs and lows, current liabilities steadily increase, resulting in a diminishing cash ratio over time. The combination of rising short-term obligations and lower liquidity ratios suggests a need for close monitoring of cash flow management and liabilities to maintain financial stability.