Below are the statements of financial position of Onye Nigeria Plc as at October 31, 2020, and an extract from the statement of profit or loss for the year ended on that date.

Onye Nigeria Plc
Statement of Financial Position as at October 31, 2020

Item 2020 (N’000) 2019 (N’000)
Non-current assets
Property, plant and equipment 8,325 6,435
Current assets
Inventories 2,880 2,205
Trade receivables 5,535 4,860
Cash and bank 360 540
Total Assets 17,100 14,040
Equity and Liabilities
Equity
Ordinary share capital 3,600 3,600
Retained earnings 5,603 3,938
Non-current liabilities
10% loan notes 3,600 2,700
Current liabilities
Trade payables 3,375 3,105
Bank overdraft 495 360
Taxation 135 90
Accrued expenses 292 247
Total Equity and Liabilities 17,100 14,040

Onye Nigeria Plc
Extracts from Statement of Profit or Loss for the Year Ended October 31

Item 2020 (N’000) 2019 (N’000)
Revenue 50,400 43,875
Cost of sales (38,070) (30,713)
Profit before taxation 2,093 1,440

Additional information:

  1. The profit before tax is after charging:
    Item 2020 (N’000) 2019 (N’000)
    Depreciation 1,620 1,620
    Interest on loan note 360 270
    Interest on bank overdraft 68 41
    Audit fees 54 45
  2. The latest industry average ratios are as follows:
    Ratio Industry Average
    ROCE 18.50%
    Net profit margin 4.73%
    Gross profit margin 35.23%
    Assets turnover 3.91 times
    Current ratio 1.90:1
    Quick ratio 1.27:1
    Trade receivables period 52 days
    Trade payables period 49 days
    Inventory turnover 18.30 times
    Gearing ratio 32.71%

Required:
a. Calculate the above ratios of Onye Nigeria Plc for the years 2019 and 2020. (10 Marks)
b. Analyze the performance and liquidity of Onye Nigeria Plc for the year 2020. (5 Marks)
c. Comment on the limitations of using accounting ratios in financial statement analysis. (5 Marks)

(a) Computation of ratios of Onye Nigeria Plc for years 2019 and 2020

b. Analysis of Performance and Liquidity of Onye Nigeria Plc for Year 2020

  • Performance:
    • The ROCE of 19.16% in 2020 indicates a strong return on capital, above the industry average of 18.50%.
    • The Net Profit Margin of 4.15% shows an improvement compared to 3.29% in 2019, indicating better cost control or increased pricing power.
    • The Gross Profit Margin of 24.46% reflects a healthy profit margin, although it is lower than the industry average (35.23%), indicating potential cost issues in sales or production.
  • Liquidity:
    • The Current Ratio of 2.04:1 suggests strong liquidity, above the industry average of 1.90:1, indicating that the company can cover its short-term liabilities comfortably.
    • The Gearing Ratio of 28.12% is within an acceptable range, indicating low financial risk and reliance on debt financing.

c. Limitations of Using Accounting Ratios in Financial Statement Analysis

  1. Historical Data:
    Ratios are based on historical financial data, which may not accurately reflect the current financial situation or future performance of the company.
  2. Industry Variability:
    Different industries have different norms for financial ratios, making it difficult to compare ratios across industries. Ratios may not be meaningful if industry averages are not considered.
  3. Manipulation of Accounts:
    Companies may use accounting practices to manipulate figures, affecting the reliability of ratios derived from the financial statements.
  4. Qualitative Factors Ignored:
    Ratios provide quantitative analysis and may overlook qualitative factors such as management effectiveness, brand strength, or market conditions that can significantly impact a company’s performance.
  5. Economic Changes:
    Ratios may become outdated quickly due to economic changes, market dynamics, or regulatory adjustments that affect financial performance.