What’s The Score?
What Is A Z Score?
With all of the metrics, ratios and mathematical techniques used to evaluate the worthiness of a stock, it is almost possible to come across a new measurement technique every day.
The Z-Score is a weighted combination of 5 financial ratios used to calculate the financial strength of a company. While it is a weighted measure of several financial ratios, it basically measures liquidity and the performance of invested capital.
The knock about the Z Score is its relative lack of any specific measurable outcomes. The results of the Z Score test are divided into 3 general categories:
- Bankruptcy is likely - less than 1.8
- Bankruptcy is not likely -Â Â greater than 3.0
- No certain result (unsure) - between 1.8-3.0
You are probably thinking exactly what I am thinking right now…”this doesn’t tell me anything!”
Well, we were both right and wrong.
While the Z Score doesn’t tell us much about the specific upside potential of the company, it has been accurate up to 90% in determining whether a company is likely to go bankrupt over the next year.
Therefore, using Z Score as a preliminary tool to weed out potential investments from a large group can be effective.
How to Calculate Z ScoreÂ
Z = 1.2A + 1.4B + 3.3C + 0.6D + 1.0E
Where:
Z = score
A = Working Capital/Total Assets
B = Retained Earnings/Total Assets
C = Earnings Before Interest & Tax/Total Assets
D = Market Value of Equity/Total Liabilities
E = Sales/Total Assets
It seems as though calculating the Z score for a company will provide us with a vague measuring stick that allows for the determination, with some accuracy, if a company is in dire financial trouble or not.
Generally speaking, the higher the Z score the better off financially the company is. It is my contention that like most other indicators it has its faults when used in isolation, but can be valuable when combined with other evaluation techniques.
It is interesting to note that some companies, such as Royal Bank of Canada (RY) can have Z -scores in the hundreds!
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