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Business Term

流動比率

Current Ratio / カレント・レシオ

The current ratio measures short-term liquidity by comparing current assets to current liabilities.

Formula
Current Ratio = Current Assets / Current Liabilities
Use when
Assesses short-term solvency and working-capital needs.
Watch out
Recurring and comparable inputs that match the definition
Updated: 2026. 05. 14.Quality: ReviewedSources: 3
What it means

Current ratio is calculated as current assets divided by current liabilities. It indicates whether a firm can meet obligations due within a year using near-term assets such as cash, receivables, and inventory. A very high ratio may signal inefficient asset use, so industry context is essential.

How to calculate it

Current Ratio should be calculated with a stable numerator, denominator, and time window. Formula | Current Ratio = Current Assets / Current Liabilities | Use it to judge short-term liquidity and working-capital pressure. Time window | Use the same period for every comparison | Prevents artificial movement Segment | Calculate by plan, market, cohort, or owner when useful | Reveals where the change came from

LensFormula / treatmentWhen to use it
FormulaCurrent Ratio = Current Assets / Current LiabilitiesUse it to judge short-term liquidity and working-capital pressure.
Time windowUse the same period for every comparisonPrevents artificial movement
SegmentCalculate by plan, market, cohort, or owner when usefulReveals where the change came from
What counts / what does not

The boundary of Current Ratio must be written before it is used as a KPI. Include | Recurring and comparable inputs that match the definition | Keeps trend analysis reliable Exclude | One-off, unmatched, or non-comparable items | Avoids inflated or misleading movement Document | Data source, owner, refresh timing, and exception rules | Makes reviews reproducible

ItemTreatmentWhy it matters
IncludeRecurring and comparable inputs that match the definitionKeeps trend analysis reliable
ExcludeOne-off, unmatched, or non-comparable itemsAvoids inflated or misleading movement
DocumentData source, owner, refresh timing, and exception rulesMakes reviews reproducible
What moves the number

Current Ratio changes because the underlying operating drivers change. Volume | More or fewer units, users, customers, or transactions | Explains scale effects Mix | Change in segment, plan, product, or channel composition | Explains quality of growth or decline Efficiency | Better conversion, retention, cost control, or process discipline | Explains operating improvement

DriverMetric impactWhat to watch
VolumeMore or fewer units, users, customers, or transactionsExplains scale effects
MixChange in segment, plan, product, or channel compositionExplains quality of growth or decline
EfficiencyBetter conversion, retention, cost control, or process disciplineExplains operating improvement
When it helps

Assesses short-term solvency and working-capital needs. Identifies whether inventory or receivables management requires attention. Supports credit terms negotiations with lenders or suppliers.

  • Assesses short-term solvency and working-capital needs.
  • Identifies whether inventory or receivables management requires attention.
  • Supports credit terms negotiations with lenders or suppliers.
How to use it
  • Define current assets and liabilities consistently for accuracy.
  • Inventory quality affects how meaningful the ratio is.
  • Receivables collection speed can change the ratio quickly.
  • Compare against industry norms rather than a single rule.
  • Use alongside cash-flow metrics for better insight.
Decision cautions

Do not read Current Ratio alone. Compare with companion metrics before changing budget or targets. Check whether the movement came from real performance or definition drift. Avoid optimizing the metric in a way that harms customer quality or long-term value.

  • Compare with companion metrics before changing budget or targets.
  • Check whether the movement came from real performance or definition drift.
  • Avoid optimizing the metric in a way that harms customer quality or long-term value.
Read with

Read Current Ratio together with metrics that explain quality, scale, and risk. Growth metric | Shows direction | Explains whether the trend is improving Efficiency metric | Shows cost or effort | Explains whether the result is economical Risk metric | Shows volatility or concentration | Explains whether the result is durable

MetricRoleWhy read together
Growth metricShows directionExplains whether the trend is improving
Efficiency metricShows cost or effortExplains whether the result is economical
Risk metricShows volatility or concentrationExplains whether the result is durable
Example

A retailer shows a current ratio of 1.9 but holds slow-moving inventory. After tightening inventory management and improving collections, the ratio drops to 1.5 while cash flow improves. The business becomes more resilient despite the lower ratio. The team reviews outcomes with stakeholders and updates the plan, which stabilizes results over time.

Compare with

Compare Current Ratio with adjacent concepts before deciding. Current Ratio | Current concept | Use when the team needs the primary decision lens Adjacent metric or framework | Supporting lens | Use when the team needs evidence or process detail General vocabulary | Broad explanation | Use only for orientation, not final decision-making

MetricDifferenceWhy read together
Current RatioCurrent conceptUse when the team needs the primary decision lens
Adjacent metric or frameworkSupporting lensUse when the team needs evidence or process detail
General vocabularyBroad explanationUse only for orientation, not final decision-making
Common mistakes
  • A higher ratio always means healthier liquidity.
  • A ratio below 1 always signals failure.
  • Cash flow analysis is unnecessary if the ratio is strong.
Frequently asked questions
When should I use Current Ratio?

Use it when the team needs to decide scope, priority, owner, or trade-off, not when it only needs a short definition.

What makes Current Ratio useful in practice?

It becomes useful when it is tied to evidence, a decision owner, and a concrete next operating choice.

What should I avoid?

Avoid using the term as a label without clarifying assumptions, boundaries, and how success will be judged.

Sources
SourcesKindLink
Financial Accounting (OpenStax)Open
Principles of Marketing (Open Textbook Library)tier_sOpen
Principles of Management (OpenStax)tier_sOpen