Net accounts receivable

Net Accounts Receivable refers to the total amount of money that a company is owed by its customers for goods or services that have been sold on credit. It is calculated by subtracting any allowances or discounts from the total accounts receivable. This figure is important for a company because it represents money that is expected to come in, and it is used in financial analysis to assess a company's liquidity and creditworthiness.

Net Accounts Receivable interpretation

The net accounts receivable figure can be used to interpret a company's credit and sales policies, as well as its overall financial health. A high net accounts receivable balance can indicate that a company is extending a lot of credit to its customers, which can be a sign of strong sales or a relaxed credit policy. However, if the net accounts receivable balance is increasing over time, it could also indicate that customers are having trouble paying their bills, which could be a sign of financial trouble.

A low net accounts receivable balance, on the other hand, can indicate that a company has strict credit policies, which can limit sales but also reduce the risk of bad debt. It can also indicate that customers are paying their bills quickly, which is generally a positive sign.

It's important to compare net accounts receivable to other financial metrics, such as net income, sales, and other assets and liabilities, to get a full picture of a company's financial health. Additionally, it is also important to compare the net accounts receivable to the industry average to have a better understanding of how it is performing compared to its peers.

Net accounts receivable — recommended articles

Coverage ratio — Payables turnover — Asset coverage ratio — Operating cash flow ratio — Solvency ratios — Cash Flow-to-Debt Ratio — Return on sales — Combined Ratio — Debt management ratio

References

• Aurora, B. B. C. (2013). Methods for Measuring the Impairment of Accounts Receivable. Ovidius University Annals, Series Economic Sciences, 13(1).
• Finger, C. A. (2010). Using judgment to measure the allowance for doubtful accounts. Global Perspectives on Accounting Education, 7, 9.
• Bryan, T. G. (2021). Unfaithful representation: Understating accounts receivable in the name of conservatism.