Simply defined, the gap between current and present-day liabilities of a firm in the balance sheet is the Net Working Capital formula (NWC). It is a measure of the liquidity and capacity of a firm to satisfy its short-term bonds and its financing activities. Theoretically, a positive net working capital balance is accessible with more current assets than current obligations.

Different NWC calculation techniques may omit cash and liabilities (current component only) or include only accounts receivable, inventory, and payable accounts.

What Is The Formula For Net Working Capital

Depending on what the analyst would like to include or omit from this figure, several alternative methodologies are used to calculate net working capital. The change in net working capital formula is given by:

Net Working Capital= Current Assets — Existing Liabilities

or,

Net Working Capital= Current Assets (without cash) — Current Liabilities (less debt)

or,

Net Working Capital = Receivable Accounts + Inventory — Payable Accounts

As it covers all accounts, the first is larger, the second is narrower and the last is the narrowest (as it only includes three accounts).

Net Working Capital Ratio Formula

The present ratio is defined as current assets, divided by current liabilities, and is intended to offer a measurement of the liquidity of the company:

Current Ratio= Current Assets/ Current Liabilities

This is of little value without context, as we shall soon see, but the general perspective is that a current >-1 ratio suggests that a firm is more liquid, because it has liquid assets which may theoretically be translated into cash and will cover future short-term liabilities more than it does.

The fast ratio (or acid test) that separates liquidity just the most (cash and debt) liquidity measuring. Another closely associated ratio. In the absence of inventory and other non-current assets, the advantage is that liquidation inventories may not be straightforward or desired. The net working capital formula in terms of ratio is given as:

Quick Ratio= (Cash+ marketable securities+ accounts receivable) / (Current liabilities).