Current ratio

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The current ratio is a comparison of a firm's current assets to its current liabilities. For example, if WXY Company's current assets are $50,000,000 and its current liabilities are $40,000,000, then its current ratio would be $50,000,000 divided by $40,000,000, which equals 1.25.

The current ratio is an indication of a firm's market liquidity and ability to meet short-term debt obligations. Acceptable current ratios vary from industry to industry, but a current ratio between 1 and 1.5 is considered standard. If a company's current assets are in this range, then it is generally considered to have good short-term financial strength. If current liabilities exceed current assets (the current ratio is below 1), then the company may have problems meeting its short-term obligations. If the current ratio is too high, then the company may not be efficiently utilizing its current assets.

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