Analysis of Short-term (Operating) Activity Ratios
Quarterly Data
Activity ratios measure how efficiently a company performs day-to-day tasks, such us the collection of receivables and management of inventory.
Short-term Activity Ratios (Summary)
IQVIA Holdings Inc., short-term (operating) activity ratios (quarterly data)
Based on: 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2019-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2019-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2019-03-31).
- Receivables Turnover
- The receivables turnover ratio shows an overall increasing trend from early 2019 to late 2021, rising from approximately 4.28 to a peak of 5.81. This indicates an improvement in the frequency of collections relative to receivables during this period. However, from 2022 onwards, the ratio exhibits a gradual decline, falling from about 5.36 in the first quarter of 2022 to 4.6 in the third quarter of 2023. This decrease suggests a slight slowdown in collection efficiency in more recent quarters.
- Working Capital Turnover
- The working capital turnover ratio exhibits notable volatility across the available periods. Initially, the ratio remains relatively stable between 21.19 and 25.97 until the end of 2019, after which there is a significant spike to 61.26 at the end of that year. This spike is followed by a decline stabilizing between approximately 21.35 and 30.16 in early to mid-2020. Subsequently, data for working capital turnover become sparse from mid-2021 onwards, precluding a comprehensive analysis of the more recent trend. The large fluctuations seen may reflect changes in operational efficiency or shifts in working capital management during that time frame.
- Average Receivable Collection Period
- The average receivable collection period in days generally shows a decreasing trend from early 2019 through 2021, shortening from 85 days to a low of 63 days in the third quarter of 2021. This decline suggests enhanced efficiency in collecting receivables during these years. From 2022 onwards, the collection period lengthens somewhat, rising from 67 days at the beginning of 2022 to approximately 79 days by the third quarter of 2023. This increase could indicate a slight deterioration in collection performance or changes in credit policies affecting customer payment times.
- Summary
- Overall, the data suggest improved receivables management and collection efficiency from 2019 through 2021, as shown by increasing receivables turnover and decreasing collection periods. However, recent quarters indicate some weakening in these metrics, with turnover ratios declining and collection periods lengthening. Working capital turnover presents variability and possible operational shifts in 2019-2020, though insufficient recent data limits a full assessment. Continuous monitoring is advised to understand whether recent trends represent temporary fluctuations or the beginning of longer-term changes in financial efficiency.
Turnover Ratios
Average No. Days
Receivables Turnover
IQVIA Holdings Inc., receivables turnover calculation (quarterly data)
| Sep 30, 2023 | Jun 30, 2023 | Mar 31, 2023 | Dec 31, 2022 | Sep 30, 2022 | Jun 30, 2022 | Mar 31, 2022 | Dec 31, 2021 | Sep 30, 2021 | Jun 30, 2021 | Mar 31, 2021 | Dec 31, 2020 | Sep 30, 2020 | Jun 30, 2020 | Mar 31, 2020 | Dec 31, 2019 | Sep 30, 2019 | Jun 30, 2019 | Mar 31, 2019 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Revenues | 3,736) | 3,728) | 3,652) | 3,739) | 3,562) | 3,541) | 3,568) | 3,636) | 3,391) | 3,438) | 3,409) | 3,298) | 2,786) | 2,521) | 2,754) | 2,895) | 2,769) | 2,740) | 2,684) | ||||||
| Trade accounts receivable and unbilled services, net | 3,227) | 3,139) | 3,063) | 2,917) | 2,640) | 2,679) | 2,619) | 2,551) | 2,330) | 2,276) | 2,361) | 2,410) | 2,414) | 2,371) | 2,634) | 2,582) | 2,514) | 2,401) | 2,461) | ||||||
| Short-term Activity Ratio | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Receivables turnover1 | 4.60 | 4.68 | 4.73 | 4.94 | 5.42 | 5.28 | 5.36 | 5.44 | 5.81 | 5.68 | 5.09 | 4.71 | 4.54 | 4.61 | 4.24 | 4.29 | 4.33 | 4.46 | 4.28 | ||||||
| Benchmarks | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Receivables Turnover, Competitors2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| AbbVie Inc. | 4.83 | 4.88 | 4.95 | 5.16 | 5.38 | 5.10 | 5.29 | 5.63 | 5.94 | 5.42 | 5.24 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| Amgen Inc. | 4.17 | 4.34 | 4.34 | 4.46 | 4.60 | 4.62 | 4.81 | 4.96 | 5.11 | 5.39 | 5.41 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| Danaher Corp. | 6.15 | 6.64 | 6.89 | 6.40 | 7.09 | 6.81 | 6.87 | 6.36 | 6.69 | 6.51 | 6.28 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| Eli Lilly & Co. | 3.93 | 3.93 | 3.68 | 4.14 | 4.35 | 4.57 | 4.64 | 4.24 | 4.69 | 4.58 | 4.56 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| Gilead Sciences Inc. | 5.68 | 6.43 | 6.43 | 5.65 | 6.16 | 6.60 | 7.18 | 6.01 | 5.95 | 6.34 | 6.43 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| Johnson & Johnson | 5.91 | 5.36 | 5.65 | 5.88 | 6.04 | 5.92 | 6.08 | 6.14 | 6.13 | 6.00 | 5.64 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| Merck & Co. Inc. | 5.71 | 5.29 | 5.56 | 6.27 | 6.22 | 5.93 | 5.49 | 5.28 | 5.56 | 6.00 | 5.65 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| Pfizer Inc. | 6.25 | 7.66 | 7.57 | 9.16 | 6.21 | 6.68 | 6.99 | 7.08 | 5.81 | 5.23 | 4.70 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. | 2.35 | 2.47 | 2.42 | 2.28 | 2.47 | 2.76 | 3.41 | 2.66 | 2.48 | 1.77 | 2.20 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. | 5.19 | 5.43 | 5.53 | 5.53 | 5.76 | 5.53 | 5.21 | 4.92 | 7.03 | 6.99 | 6.46 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. | 6.27 | 6.11 | 5.95 | 6.19 | 6.28 | 6.26 | 6.15 | 6.66 | 6.48 | 7.19 | 6.56 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
Based on: 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2019-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2019-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2019-03-31).
1 Q3 2023 Calculation
Receivables turnover
= (RevenuesQ3 2023
+ RevenuesQ2 2023
+ RevenuesQ1 2023
+ RevenuesQ4 2022)
÷ Trade accounts receivable and unbilled services, net
= (3,736 + 3,728 + 3,652 + 3,739)
÷ 3,227 = 4.60
2 Click competitor name to see calculations.
- Revenue Trends
- The revenues demonstrate a generally upward trajectory over the periods under review, rising from approximately $2.68 billion in March 2019 to around $3.74 billion in September 2023. There are some notable fluctuations, with a dip observed in mid-2020 corresponding to the early impact period of global economic disruptions. Recovery and growth were evident from late 2020 onward, peaking near $3.64 billion at the end of 2021 and continuing an upward trend through 2023, suggesting resilience and strong demand recovery.
- Trade Accounts Receivable and Unbilled Services
- The net trade accounts receivable and unbilled services figures fluctuate within a relatively narrow range, starting at $2.46 billion in March 2019 and increasing to $3.23 billion by September 2023. A slight decline is noticeable in mid-2020, aligning with the revenue dip, followed by a steady increase thereafter. The increasing receivables balance, especially post-2021, might imply extended credit terms or increased sales on credit, which warrants monitoring for potential impacts on cash flow.
- Receivables Turnover Ratio
- The receivables turnover ratio shows a rising trend from 4.28 in early 2019 to a peak above 5.8 in September 2021, indicating improved efficiency in collecting receivables during this period. From that peak, there is a gradual decline through 2022 and into 2023, reaching 4.6 in September 2023. This reduction in turnover suggests a slowing in collection efficiency or potentially longer payment cycles, which corresponds with the increase in receivables balances noted previously.
- Overall Financial Dynamics
- The data reflect a period of initial growth, a temporary setback likely linked to external economic factors in early 2020, followed by a strong rebound and continued revenue growth. The parallel increase in receivables alongside decreasing turnover ratios toward the latter periods indicates potential changes in credit policies or customer payment behaviors. This trend should be assessed carefully to ensure that increased receivables do not adversely affect liquidity and working capital management.
Working Capital Turnover
IQVIA Holdings Inc., working capital turnover calculation (quarterly data)
| Sep 30, 2023 | Jun 30, 2023 | Mar 31, 2023 | Dec 31, 2022 | Sep 30, 2022 | Jun 30, 2022 | Mar 31, 2022 | Dec 31, 2021 | Sep 30, 2021 | Jun 30, 2021 | Mar 31, 2021 | Dec 31, 2020 | Sep 30, 2020 | Jun 30, 2020 | Mar 31, 2020 | Dec 31, 2019 | Sep 30, 2019 | Jun 30, 2019 | Mar 31, 2019 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current assets | 5,208) | 5,329) | 5,328) | 4,981) | 4,752) | 4,911) | 4,772) | 4,763) | 4,534) | 5,068) | 5,579) | 5,090) | 4,645) | 4,208) | 4,277) | 4,126) | 3,995) | 3,978) | 3,999) | ||||||
| Less: Current liabilities | 6,589) | 6,543) | 6,657) | 5,578) | 5,253) | 5,104) | 5,157) | 5,241) | 4,847) | 4,819) | 4,868) | 4,558) | 4,139) | 3,843) | 3,907) | 3,945) | 3,576) | 3,495) | 3,502) | ||||||
| Working capital | (1,381) | (1,214) | (1,329) | (597) | (501) | (193) | (385) | (478) | (313) | 249) | 711) | 532) | 506) | 365) | 370) | 181) | 419) | 483) | 497) | ||||||
| Revenues | 3,736) | 3,728) | 3,652) | 3,739) | 3,562) | 3,541) | 3,568) | 3,636) | 3,391) | 3,438) | 3,409) | 3,298) | 2,786) | 2,521) | 2,754) | 2,895) | 2,769) | 2,740) | 2,684) | ||||||
| Short-term Activity Ratio | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Working capital turnover1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 51.93 | 16.90 | 21.35 | 21.65 | 29.97 | 30.16 | 61.26 | 25.97 | 22.17 | 21.19 | ||||||
| Benchmarks | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Working Capital Turnover, Competitors2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| AbbVie Inc. | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 130.12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| Amgen Inc. | 0.81 | 0.84 | 0.82 | 3.82 | 2.52 | 3.67 | 4.34 | 3.37 | 2.55 | 5.35 | 2.84 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. | 10.47 | 5.53 | 5.55 | 8.30 | 5.75 | 4.92 | 6.24 | 3.95 | 4.43 | 4.24 | 4.25 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| Danaher Corp. | 2.18 | 3.08 | 3.81 | 4.20 | 5.00 | 5.43 | 5.91 | 8.40 | 7.98 | 3.12 | 3.45 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| Eli Lilly & Co. | 31.79 | 12.21 | 5.77 | 31.84 | 14.71 | 19.45 | 8.19 | 8.33 | 6.73 | 12.14 | 5.21 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| Gilead Sciences Inc. | 6.74 | 84.15 | 9.14 | 8.42 | 8.56 | 6.87 | 6.68 | 8.54 | 7.25 | 7.09 | 7.06 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| Johnson & Johnson | 9.37 | 14.06 | 23.02 | — | 4.88 | 5.02 | 5.57 | 5.95 | 5.97 | 5.93 | 7.26 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| Merck & Co. Inc. | 6.69 | 8.86 | 5.63 | 5.16 | 5.58 | 6.39 | 6.09 | 7.62 | 6.51 | 6.97 | 84.97 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| Pfizer Inc. | 1.62 | 2.03 | 6.89 | 11.00 | 3.83 | 5.05 | 6.10 | 4.78 | 4.29 | 4.21 | 3.60 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. | 0.87 | 0.92 | 0.90 | 0.96 | 1.09 | 1.14 | 1.46 | 1.59 | 1.35 | 1.29 | 1.35 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. | 4.86 | 7.40 | 10.13 | 5.46 | 5.40 | 6.03 | 6.13 | 5.87 | 2.30 | 3.10 | 3.36 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. | 0.87 | 0.90 | 0.93 | 0.85 | 0.90 | 0.93 | 0.97 | 1.02 | 1.03 | 1.01 | 0.97 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
Based on: 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2019-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2019-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2019-03-31).
1 Q3 2023 Calculation
Working capital turnover
= (RevenuesQ3 2023
+ RevenuesQ2 2023
+ RevenuesQ1 2023
+ RevenuesQ4 2022)
÷ Working capital
= (3,736 + 3,728 + 3,652 + 3,739)
÷ -1,381 = —
2 Click competitor name to see calculations.
The analysis of the quarterly financial data reveals several notable trends in the key financial metrics over the observed periods.
- Working Capital
-
The working capital figures demonstrate considerable volatility across the quarters. Initially, from the first quarter of 2019 through the fourth quarter of 2019, working capital steadily declined from US$497 million to US$181 million. Subsequently, it rebounded somewhat by the end of 2020 to US$532 million. This recovery phase was followed by a notable upward trend reaching a peak of US$711 million in the first quarter of 2021.
However, from mid-2021 onward, working capital exhibited a downward trajectory, turning negative in the second quarter of 2021 at -US$313 million and continuing to decline further, reaching significant negative levels by the end of 2023, with the lowest recorded value being -US$1,381 million in the third quarter of 2023. This persistent negative working capital suggests increasing current liabilities relative to current assets and potential liquidity pressures.
- Revenues
-
Revenue growth shows a generally positive trend with some fluctuations. The revenue rose moderately from US$2,684 million in the first quarter of 2019 to US$2,895 million by the end of 2019. During 2020, there was a temporary dip mid-year, likely reflecting market or operational disruptions, with revenues dropping to US$2,521 million in the second quarter, but it rebounded strongly to US$3,298 million by year-end.
From 2021 through mid-2023, revenues maintained a generally increasing trajectory with minor quarterly fluctuations. The highest revenue recorded was US$3,739 million in the fourth quarter of 2022. Subsequent quarters remained strong, stabilizing around the US$3,600 to US$3,700 million range. This indicates steady business expansion and resilience in revenue generation despite external challenges.
- Working Capital Turnover Ratio
-
The working capital turnover ratio experienced significant variation in the periods where the data is available. Initially, this ratio increased from 21.19 in the first quarter of 2019 to a sharp peak of 61.26 by the end of 2019, possibly reflecting improved operational efficiency or an unusual reduction in working capital relative to revenues.
In 2020, the ratio declined to values in the low twenties and thirties, suggesting a normalization of working capital management and its relation to revenue generation. The ratio again showed an elevated level of 51.93 in the second quarter of 2021, though subsequent data is missing, limiting trend analysis beyond this point.
- Overall Insights
-
The data indicates that while revenues have generally grown and stabilized at higher levels over the examined periods, working capital has deteriorated considerably since mid-2021, turning increasingly negative. Such a shift in working capital management could reflect changes in operational structure, credit terms, or capital investments that warrant further investigation.
The fluctuating working capital turnover ratios during earlier periods suggest episodic variations in operational efficiency or working capital strategy. The lack of data for the turnover ratio beyond mid-2021 limits the ability to correlate later trends in working capital with operational performance rigorously.
Average Receivable Collection Period
IQVIA Holdings Inc., average receivable collection period calculation (quarterly data)
| Sep 30, 2023 | Jun 30, 2023 | Mar 31, 2023 | Dec 31, 2022 | Sep 30, 2022 | Jun 30, 2022 | Mar 31, 2022 | Dec 31, 2021 | Sep 30, 2021 | Jun 30, 2021 | Mar 31, 2021 | Dec 31, 2020 | Sep 30, 2020 | Jun 30, 2020 | Mar 31, 2020 | Dec 31, 2019 | Sep 30, 2019 | Jun 30, 2019 | Mar 31, 2019 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selected Financial Data | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Receivables turnover | 4.60 | 4.68 | 4.73 | 4.94 | 5.42 | 5.28 | 5.36 | 5.44 | 5.81 | 5.68 | 5.09 | 4.71 | 4.54 | 4.61 | 4.24 | 4.29 | 4.33 | 4.46 | 4.28 | ||||||
| Short-term Activity Ratio (no. days) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Average receivable collection period1 | 79 | 78 | 77 | 74 | 67 | 69 | 68 | 67 | 63 | 64 | 72 | 77 | 80 | 79 | 86 | 85 | 84 | 82 | 85 | ||||||
| Benchmarks (no. days) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Average Receivable Collection Period, Competitors2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| AbbVie Inc. | 76 | 75 | 74 | 71 | 68 | 72 | 69 | 65 | 61 | 67 | 70 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| Amgen Inc. | 88 | 84 | 84 | 82 | 79 | 79 | 76 | 74 | 71 | 68 | 67 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| Danaher Corp. | 59 | 55 | 53 | 57 | 51 | 54 | 53 | 57 | 55 | 56 | 58 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| Eli Lilly & Co. | 93 | 93 | 99 | 88 | 84 | 80 | 79 | 86 | 78 | 80 | 80 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| Gilead Sciences Inc. | 64 | 57 | 57 | 65 | 59 | 55 | 51 | 61 | 61 | 58 | 57 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| Johnson & Johnson | 62 | 68 | 65 | 62 | 60 | 62 | 60 | 59 | 60 | 61 | 65 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| Merck & Co. Inc. | 64 | 69 | 66 | 58 | 59 | 62 | 66 | 69 | 66 | 61 | 65 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| Pfizer Inc. | 58 | 48 | 48 | 40 | 59 | 55 | 52 | 52 | 63 | 70 | 78 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. | 156 | 148 | 151 | 160 | 148 | 132 | 107 | 137 | 147 | 206 | 166 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. | 70 | 67 | 66 | 66 | 63 | 66 | 70 | 74 | 52 | 52 | 56 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. | 58 | 60 | 61 | 59 | 58 | 58 | 59 | 55 | 56 | 51 | 56 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
Based on: 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2023-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-03-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2019-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2019-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2019-03-31).
1 Q3 2023 Calculation
Average receivable collection period = 365 ÷ Receivables turnover
= 365 ÷ 4.60 = 79
2 Click competitor name to see calculations.
- Receivables Turnover Ratio
- The receivables turnover ratio shows an overall increasing trend from the first quarter of 2019 through the third quarter of 2021. Starting at 4.28 in March 2019, the ratio rises steadily to peak at 5.81 in September 2021, indicating an improved efficiency in collecting receivables. Following this peak, the ratio exhibits a slight decline, decreasing to 4.60 by September 2023. This decline suggests a moderate reduction in collection efficiency in the most recent periods compared to the peak levels.
- Average Receivable Collection Period
- The average receivable collection period inversely mirrors the trend seen in the receivables turnover ratio, which is consistent with the typical relationship between these two metrics. The collection period decreases from 85 days in March 2019 to a low of 63 days in September 2021, reflecting faster collection of receivables over this timeframe. However, from late 2021 through September 2023, the collection period slightly increases, rising to 79 days by the latest period. This increase indicates a slowing in the pace of receivables collection recently, aligning with the declining turnover ratio observed.
- Overall Interpretation
- The data reveals that the company improved its receivables management significantly from early 2019 to late 2021, achieving faster collections and higher turnover ratios. Since then, there has been a modest reversal in this trend, suggesting that the collections have become somewhat slower and less efficient over the past two years. Although the recent changes are not drastic, they may warrant attention to ensure that receivables remain well-managed and do not adversely affect cash flow.