Question 301
A company’s valuation multiple rises while earnings stay flat. What is the likely cause?
A. Higher expected growth
B. Lower investor confidence
C. Higher interest rates
D. Lower cash flow
Check answer
Select an option first.
Correct answer: A — Higher expected growth
Explanation: Higher multiples reflect higher expected future growth. B: Would lower multiples. C: Higher rates reduce valuations. D: Lower cash flow reduces multiples.
Question 302
A company’s free cash flow rises while net income falls. What is the likely explanation?
A. Higher non‑cash expenses
B. Lower collections
C. Higher receivables
D. Higher inventory
Check answer
Select an option first.
Correct answer: A — Higher non‑cash expenses
Explanation: More non‑cash charges (like depreciation) reduce income but increase cash flow. B, C, D: These reduce cash flow.
Question 303
A company reports rising net income but falling operating cash flow. What is the most likely cause?
A. Higher non‑cash expenses
B. Faster collection of receivables
C. Revenue recognized before cash collection
D. Lower inventory purchases
Check answer
Select an option first.
Correct answer: C — Revenue recognized before cash collection
Explanation: Recognizing revenue early increases income but not cash. A: Would increase cash flow. B: Would increase cash flow. D: Would increase cash flow.
Question 304
Which situation indicates strong cash flow quality?
A. Operating cash flow consistently exceeds net income
B. Net income consistently exceeds operating cash flow
C. Cash flow rises only because of higher payables
D. Cash flow rises only because of lower inventory
Check answer
Select an option first.
Correct answer: A — Operating cash flow consistently exceeds net income
Explanation: Cash flow > income suggests earnings are backed by cash. B: Suggests weak quality. C, D: Temporary working‑capital effects, not sustainable.
Question 305
A company’s operating cash flow is positive, but free cash flow is negative. Why?
A. High capital spending
B. High depreciation
C. High interest income
D. Low working capital
Check answer
Select an option first.
Correct answer: A — High capital spending
Explanation: Free cash flow subtracts capital spending; heavy investment can make it negative. B: Non‑cash. C: Increases cash. D: Would increase free cash flow.
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Question 306
Which is the strongest indicator of poor cash flow quality?
A. High depreciation
B. High capital spending
C. Large increase in receivables
D. Large increase in payables
Check answer
Select an option first.
Correct answer: C — Large increase in receivables
Explanation: Rising receivables mean cash is not collected. A: Non‑cash. B: Investment choice. D: Improves cash temporarily.
Question 307
A company’s inventory days increase sharply. What is the most likely implication?
A. Faster sales
B. Slower inventory movement
C. Higher cash flow
D. Lower working capital
Check answer
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — Slower inventory movement
Explanation: More days = slower turnover. A: Opposite. C: Cash flow worsens. D: Inventory increases working capital.
Question 308
A company shortens its credit terms to customers. What is the expected effect?
A. Higher receivables
B. Lower receivables
C. Higher inventory
D. Higher payables
Check answer
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — Lower receivables
Explanation: Shorter terms → faster collection → lower receivables. A: Opposite. C, D: Not directly affected.
Question 309
A company’s current ratio is high, but its quick ratio is low. What does this imply?
A. High inventory levels
B. Low inventory levels
C. High cash levels
D. Low payables
Check answer
Select an option first.
Correct answer: A — High inventory levels
Explanation: Quick ratio excludes inventory; if quick < current, inventory must be large. B: Opposite. C: Would raise both ratios. D: Not implied.
Question 310
A company’s payables period increases. What is the likely effect on cash flow?
A. Cash flow improves
B. Cash flow worsens
C. Cash flow unchanged
D. Revenue increases
Check answer
Select an option first.
Correct answer: A — Cash flow improves
Explanation: Paying suppliers later preserves cash. B: Opposite. C: Payables affect cash. D: Not related.
Question 311
A company’s cash conversion cycle increases. What does this indicate?
A. Faster cash recovery
B. Slower cash recovery
C. Lower inventory
D. Lower receivables
Check answer
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — Slower cash recovery
Explanation: Longer cycle = slower conversion of operations into cash. A: Opposite. C, D: Would shorten the cycle.
Question 312
A company reduces its inventory without affecting sales. What happens?
A. Cash flow improves
B. Cash flow worsens
C. Revenue decreases
D. Payables increase
Check answer
Select an option first.
Correct answer: A — Cash flow improves
Explanation: Lower inventory frees up cash. B: Opposite. C, D: Not implied.
Question 313
A company issues long‑term bonds to repay short‑term loans. What happens?
A. Liquidity improves
B. Liquidity worsens
C. Profit increases
D. Revenue increases
Check answer
Select an option first.
Correct answer: A — Liquidity improves
Explanation: Longer maturities reduce near‑term obligations. B: Opposite. C, D: Not affected.
Question 314
A company’s leverage decreases. What is the most likely cause?
A. Issuing equity
B. Issuing debt
C. Lower profit
D. Higher inventory
Check answer
Select an option first.
Correct answer: A — Issuing equity
Explanation: More equity reduces leverage. B: Increases leverage. C, D: Not directly related.
Question 315
A company’s free cash flow falls even though net income rises. What is the likely cause?
A. Higher working‑capital needs
B. Higher non‑cash expenses
C. Lower interest expense
D. Lower tax rate
Check answer
Select an option first.
Correct answer: A — Higher working‑capital needs
Explanation: More cash tied in receivables/inventory reduces free cash flow. B: Would increase cash flow. C, D: Improve cash flow.
Question 316
A company delays recording expenses until the next period. What is the immediate effect?
A. Higher current profit
B. Lower current profit
C. Higher current cash flow
D. Lower current revenue
Check answer
Select an option first.
Correct answer: A — Higher current profit
Explanation: Delaying expenses inflates current profit. B: Opposite. C: Cash flow unaffected. D: Not related.
Question 317
Which situation most likely increases working‑capital accruals?
A. Paying suppliers faster
B. Collecting from customers faster
C. Increasing inventory purchases on credit
D. Reducing inventory levels
Check answer
Select an option first.
Correct answer: C — Increasing inventory purchases on credit
Explanation: Credit purchases increase payables, raising accruals. A, B: Reduce accruals. D: Reduces accruals.
Question 318
A company refinances short‑term debt with long‑term debt. What improves?
A. Liquidity
B. Profit margin
C. Revenue
D. Inventory turnover
Check answer
Select an option first.
Correct answer: A — Liquidity
Explanation: Longer maturities reduce near‑term obligations. B, C, D: Not affected.
Question 319
A company issues equity to repay debt. What happens?
A. Leverage decreases
B. Leverage increases
C. Interest expense increases
D. Liquidity decreases
Check answer
Select an option first.
Correct answer: A — Leverage decreases
Explanation: More equity and less debt reduce leverage. B: Opposite. C: Debt repayment reduces interest. D: Liquidity improves.
Question 320
A company’s free cash flow increases while earnings stay flat. What is the likely reason?
A. Lower working‑capital needs
B. Higher depreciation
C. Higher interest expense
D. Higher tax rate
Check answer
Select an option first.
Correct answer: A — Lower working‑capital needs
Explanation: Less cash tied in operations increases free cash flow. B: Non‑cash. C, D: Reduce cash flow.
Question 321
A company’s dividend payout ratio rises sharply. What is the likely implication?
A. The company is retaining more cash
B. The company is distributing more of its earnings
C. The company is reducing dividends
D. The company is increasing leverage
Check answer
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — The company is distributing more of its earnings
Explanation: Higher payout = more earnings distributed. A: Opposite. C: Opposite. D: Not implied.
Question 322
Which situation most likely improves operating cash flow?
A. Paying suppliers faster
B. Collecting from customers faster
C. Increasing inventory purchases
D. Increasing prepaid expenses
Check answer
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — Collecting from customers faster
Explanation: Faster collections increase cash inflow. A: Reduces cash. C: Uses cash. D: Uses cash.
Question 323
A company’s operating cash flow is consistently lower than its profit. What is the most likely cause?
A. High non‑cash expenses
B. High working‑capital needs
C. Low credit sales
D. Low inventory levels
Check answer
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — High working‑capital needs
Explanation: Heavy working‑capital investment reduces cash. A: Would increase cash flow. C: Would increase cash flow. D: Would increase cash flow.
Question 324
Which of the following increases free cash flow?
A. Higher capital spending
B. Lower capital spending
C. Higher interest payments
D. Higher tax payments
Check answer
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — Lower capital spending
Explanation: Free cash flow rises when capital spending falls. A, C, D: All reduce free cash flow.
Question 325
A company delays paying suppliers. What happens to operating cash flow?
A. It increases
B. It decreases
C. It stays the same
D. It becomes negative
Check answer
Select an option first.
Correct answer: A — It increases
Explanation: Delaying payments keeps cash inside the business. B: Opposite. C: Payables affect cash. D: Not necessarily.
Question 326
A company’s cash flow from operations rises, but its profit stays flat. What explains this?
A. Higher depreciation
B. Lower receivables
C. Higher inventory
D. Higher payables
Check answer
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — Lower receivables
Explanation: Lower receivables = more cash collected. A: Non‑cash, doesn’t raise operating cash by itself. C: Uses cash. D: Helps cash, but receivables is the cleaner explanation.
Question 327
A company’s current ratio rises. What is the most likely reason?
A. Current liabilities increase
B. Current assets increase
C. Long‑term debt increases
D. Depreciation increases
Check answer
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — Current assets increase
Explanation: More current assets raise the ratio. A: Would lower the ratio. C, D: Not part of current ratio.
Question 328
Which action improves the quick ratio?
A. Increasing inventory
B. Paying off short‑term debt
C. Buying more inventory
D. Increasing prepaid expenses
Check answer
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — Paying off short‑term debt
Explanation: Reducing current liabilities improves the quick ratio. A, C: Inventory excluded from quick ratio. D: Prepaids excluded.
Question 329
A company’s days inventory outstanding increases. What does this imply?
A. Faster inventory turnover
B. Slower inventory turnover
C. Higher sales
D. Lower working capital
Check answer
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — Slower inventory turnover
Explanation: More days = slower turnover. A: Opposite. C: Not implied. D: Higher inventory increases working capital.
Question 330
A company extends more credit to customers. What happens?
A. Receivables increase
B. Receivables decrease
C. Cash increases
D. Inventory increases
Check answer
Select an option first.
Correct answer: A — Receivables increase
Explanation: More credit = more receivables. B: Opposite. C: Cash decreases. D: Not directly related.
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