INTRODUCTION:

It is widely accepted that every successful business must have a strong working capital position. It is in this context; an attempt was made to explain the concept and various determinative factors influencing net current assets below:

Gross working capital refers to working capital as the total of current assets. That is to say, Gross working capital = Total current assets.
Net working capital refers to working capital as excess of current assets over current liabilities. In other words net working capital refers to current assets financed by long term funds or capital employed of the business.

 Accordingly, Net working capital = Current assets – Current liabilities

The net working capital position of the firm is an imperative contemplation, as this will determine the firm’s profitability and risk. Here the profitability refers to profits after expenses and risk refers to the probability that a firm will become technically insolvent where it will be unable to meet obligations when they become due for payment.

A finance manager has to make an appropriate financing mix, which will limit the risk and increase the profitability. Financing mix refers to the proportion of current assets financed by current liabilities and long term funds.

There are two approaches which determine the financing mix (1) Aggressive approach (2) Conservative approach.

According to aggressive approach the long term funds are used to finance only the core or fixed portion of current assets (e.g., minimum level of finished goods inventory, raw material etc) and the other portion i.e. temporary and seasonal requirements are financed by short term funds. This is of high risk and high profit financing mix.

According to conservative approach the total current assets are financed from long term sources and short term sources are used only in emergency situation i.e. when there is an unexpected cash outflow. This is of low-risk and low-profit financing mix.

As we observed two methods of financing mix, one method is of high risk high profit and other is of risk low profit. A finance manager has to trade off between these two extremes.

Operating Cycle:

As there is a time lag between sales and realization of receivables there is a need for sufficient working capital to deal with the problem which arises due to lack of immediate realization of cash against goods sold. The operating cycle is the length of time required for conversion of non-cash assets into cash. This operating cycle refers to the time taken for the conversion of cash into raw material, raw materials into work-in-progress, work-in-progress into finished goods, finished into receivables into cash and this cycle repeats.

The operating cycle length differs from firm to firm. If a firm has lengthy production process or a firm has liberal credit policy the length of operating cycle will be more. On the other hand, if a firm does not extent credit or the firm is not a manufacturing concern i.e. where cash will be converted into inventory directly then the length of operating cycle will be reduced to a greater extent.

The length of operating cycle is calculated based on the following:

1. Raw materials storage period    (RMSP)
2. Work in process period              (WIPP)
3. Finished goods storage period   (FGP)
4. Debtors collection period            (DCP)
5. Creditors Payment Period           (CPP)

Therefore Length of operating cycle = 1+2+ 3+4-5

FACTORS INFLUENCING WORKING CAPITAL NEEDS:

A firm should have neither low nor high working capital. Low working capital involves more risk and more returns, high working capital involves less risk and less returns. Risk here refers to technical insolvency while returns refer to increased profits/earnings. The amount of working capital is determined by a wide variety of factors:

1. Nature of Business: The working capital requirement of a firm depends on the nature of the business. For example, a firm involved in sale of services rather than manufacturing or a firm is allowing only cash sales. In the first instance, no investment is required in either raw materials or WIP or finished goods, while in the second occasion there exists no receivable as there is immediate realization of cash. Hence the requirement of working capital will be lower.

 2    Seasonality of Operations:

If the product of the firm has a seasonal demand like refrigerators, the firms need high working capital in the periods of summer, as the demand for the refrigerators is more and the firm needs low working capital in the periods of winter, as the demand for the product is low.

3.      Production Cycle:

The term production cycle refers to the time involved in the manufacture of goods. It covers the time span between the procurement of the raw materials and the completion of the manufacturing process leading to the production of goods. As funds are necessarily tied up during the production cycle, the production cycle has a bearing on the quantum of working capital.

The longer the time span of production cycle, the larger will be the funds tied up and therefore the larger the working capital needed and vice versa.

4.Production Policy:

The quantum of working capital is also determined by production policy. In case of the firms having seasonal demand of the products like refrigerators, air coolers etc. and the production policy of the firm determines the amount of working capital requirement. If the firm has production policy to carry production at a steady level to meet the peak demand, this will result in a large accumulation of finished goods (inventories) during the off-seasons and the abrupt sale during the peak season. The progressive accumulation of finished goods will naturally require an increasing amount of working capital. If the firm has production policy to produce only when there is a demand then the firm needs low working capital during the slack season and high working capital during season.

 5. Credit Policy:

The level of the working capital is also determined by the credit policy, as the firm’s credit policy determines the amount of receivables. If the firm has a liberal credit policy, then the firm needs high working capital and the firm needs low working capital if the company’s credit policy does not allow it to extend credit to the buyers.

6. Market Conditions:

The working capital requirements are also determined by the market conditions. In case of the high degree of competition prevailing in the market the firm has to maintain larger inventories as customers are not inclined to wait for the product. This needs higher working capital requirements. If there is good demand for the product and the competition is weak, a firm can manage with smaller inventory of finished goods, as customers can wait for the product if it is not available in the market.

Thus, a firm can manage with low inventory and will need low working capital requirements.

 7.Conditions of Supply:

The availability of raw materials and spares also determine the level of working capital. If there is ready availability of raw materials and spares, a firm can maintain minimum inventory and need less working capital. If the supply of raw materials is unpredictable, then the firm has to acquire stocks as and when they are available for ensuring continuous production.

Thus, the firm needs to maintain larger inventory average and needs larger requirementofworkingcapital.

CONCLUSION:

From the above discussion, it is made clear that the objective of financial management is to maximize the shareholders wealth. Hence, it is needed to generate sufficient profits. The profits generated depend mainly on sales volume. When the goods are being sold on credit as is the normal practice of business firms today to cope with increased competition the sale of goods cannot be converted into cash instantly because of time lag between sales and realization of cash. Further this is possible only through evolving effective working capital policy and better administration on current assets financing.

Dr.R.SRINIVASAN is a Post graduate in commerce and Management. He received his doctoral degree from Alagappa University in 1997. He is now Working as an ASSOCIATE PROFESSORin Post graduate and Research Department of Corporate Secretaryship at Bharathidasan Government College for Women (Autonomous), Pondicherry University, Puducherry.He currently teaches Accounting ,financial management and Research Methodology Subjects. Before Joining BGCW, he was teaching in SNR College, Coimbatore, Sindhi college, Chennai& T.S.Narayanasamy College, Chennai for eight years. He was with the industry for a short term at Salzar Electronics Pvt. Ltd, Coimbatore. He has about 20 years of teaching experience and having research experience of 15 years. His interests are in Accounting and finance, Capital Market, Quantitative Methods. He underwent the Faculty Development Programme at Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad during 2000-01. He has presented 20 papers in national and international conferences and has published twenty papers in the areas of Finance and Human resource Management in National Journals. Co-authored a book titled, ‘Investors Protection, published by Raj Publications, New Delhi He has delivered lectures in contemporary finance topics at Pondicherry University. He is involved in consultancy projects for Godrej Saralee, Chennai in the areas of Statistical Applications. He has supervised a number of research projects in the area of corporate finance and Human Resource Management. He is the Board of examiner in corporate Secretaryship and Management for the past two decades.
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Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/investing-articles/working-capital-financing-boon-to-business-1359680.html

18 High-Dividend Canadian Stocks

The 2008 financial crisis uncannily echoes what happened in Japan more than a decade ago. In the 1990s, the Japanese banking systems had become overloaded with bad loans after a property bubble collapse, according to Gillian Tett, author of Fool’s Gold. The investor psychology seemed dangerously similar too.  If this is the case, investors who buy high yield stocks now could collect big dividends while the economy fights to get back on its feet.

The Associated Press (AP) reported on Friday that the U.S. federal budget deficit has surged to an all-time high of $1.42 trillion. The Obama administration projects deficits will total $9.1 trillion over the next decade. For weeks the US dollar’s decline sent gold to all-time highs and helped oil to over $78. Canada happens to have plenty of these commodities. 

The following are 18 Canadian companies listed on U.S. exchanges with market caps greater than $1 billion, reasonable P/E ratios, and dividend yields greater than 3.5% (sorted by yield):

Name

Symbol

P/E

Yield

Market Cap

PROVIDENT ENERGY TR

(PVX)

9.0

11.1%

1.66B

PENGROWTH EGY UTS

(PGH)

5.0

10.6%

2.61B

PENN WEST ENERGY TRU

(PWE)

5.1

10.1%

6.90B

ENERPLUS RES FD

(ERF)

5.8

8.4%

3.97B

HARVEST ENERGY TRUST

(HTE)

4.2

8.1%

1.14B

B C E INC

(BCE)

21.7

6.1%

18.82B

TELUS CORP

(TU)

8.6

5.8%

9.41B

PRECISION DRILL TRST

(PDS)

4.3

5.7%

1.91B

BANK OF MONTREAL

(BMO)

17.3

5.1%

27.68B

TRANSALTA CORP

(TAC)

21.9

5.1%

4.07B

BAYTEX ENERGY TR UTS

(BTE)

12.8

5.0%

2.77B

CANADIAN IMP BK COMM

(CM)

3.7

5.0%

2.98B

BROOKFIELD PTYS CP

(BPO)

6.2

4.6%

4.47B

TRANSCANADA CORP

(TRP)

15.1

4.3%

21.71B

SHAW COMM CL B NV

(SJR)

15.6

4.2%

8.24B

ROGERS COMMUN CL B

(RCI)

16.8

4.0%

16.57B

BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA

(BNS)

16.7

3.9%

45.86B

TORONTO DOMINION

(TD)

17.4

3.5%

53.70B

These 18 high-dividend companies are in 4 sectors: Energy, Financial, Telecom and Utilities.

Energy Income Trust

High demand from China and a weak US dollar make the energy sector attractive.  7 companies belong to energy income trust category:

Symbol

Operating Margin

Debt/Operating CF

52-wk Range

(BTE)

36%

1.0

7.84 – 26.44

(ERF)

51%

0.7

12.85 – 28.58

(HTE)

10%

3.2

3.00 – 11.55

(PDS)

28%

2.0

2.00 – 12.21

(PGH)

22%

2.5

4.51 – 11.90

(PVX)

23%

1.5

2.23 – 6.84

(PWE)

58%

2.3

6.77 – 19.01

For sophisticated traders, trading commodities directly might provide a higher reward. For income investors, commodity companies might be a better choice because they provide some buffer, in addition to regular dividends.

There is a small ETF called Claymore Canadian Energy Income (ENY) which includes most of these companies. Its yield is 5.45%.

Financials

The Following are comparisons between Canadian banks, U.S. major banks averages, as well as JPMorgan Chase (JPM), one of the most conservative banks in the US. Clearly Canadian banks are much more profitable.

Description

P/E

ROE %

Div. Yield %

Net Profit Margin %

U.S. Money Center Banks

n/a

1.1%

1.1%

1.3%

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM)

52.6

2.9%

0.4%

15.5%

Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD)

17.6

9.4%

3.5%

22.2%

The Bank Of Nova Scotia (BNS)

16.8

13.2%

3.9%

28.9%

CIBC (CM)

3.8

7.0%

5.0%

18.8%

Bank of Montreal (BMO)

17.4

9.2%

5.1%

21.8%

Telecom

Competition in the telecom sector is heating up in Canada. When BCE (BCE) and Telus (TU) announced they will start carrying the iPhone next month which puts an end to the exclusivity that Rogers (RCI) has enjoyed, it sent RCI’s short ratio to a stunning high of 33. Unlike those 3, Shaw Communications (SJR) primarily focuses on cable services.

Utilities

TransAlta (TAC) is an electric utility company while TransCanada (TRP) operates through two segments: pipelines and energy. TAC’s short ratio of 5.8 makes me nervous.

 Conclusion

After boldly buying when others were selling, Warren Buffet is pulling back, buying fewer stocks while investing in debt.  He is warning that the economy, though on the mend, remains deeply troubled.

In addition, the Canadian dollar is a strong threat to the Canadian economy. CurrencyShares Canadian Dollar Trust (FXC) appreciated over 13% this year. Mark Carney, the governor of the Bank of Canada, has warned that the Canadian dollar appears to be moving away from the fundamentals. 

The iShares MSCI Canada Index (EWC) year-to-date’s return is an astonishing 46%. A great stock can be easily turned into a bad investment, if you buy it at a higher than reasonable price.  It all depends on the starting price.

Nonetheless, high-dividend, fundamentally-strong companies are more likely to survive in this stormy market. One of the greatest ways to protect your portfolio is through asset allocation: to make sure not a single sector accounts for more than 20% of your portfolio. Be sure to re-balance as it will automatically enroll you into the “buy low, sell high” camp.

Disclosure: I have long positions on BMO, BNS, CM, PWE, TD, and TRE. All data is from Yahoo Finance (http://finance.yahoo.com/) as of Oct 16, 2009. 

Stocks: BCE, BMO, BNS, BPO, BTE, CM, ENY, ERF, EWC, FXC, THE, JPM, PDS,

PGH, PVX, PWE, RCI, SJR, TAC, TD, TRP, TU

Hao Jin, CFA
Contributing Writer

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/investing-articles/canadian-income-stocks-1360481.html

Fifteen Home and Deck Project plans, Spiral Stairs, Whirlpool spa, Spa wood heater, Retractable Awning, Compost Tumbler, Under Deck Roofing, Double Carport, Trimmer Mower, Abrasive Saw, Patio, Miter Saw Table, Pot Rack, Joggle Board, Pool Heat, Ping pong
Home, Deck and Garden Projects

Key West FL is the southernmost city in the Continental United States. Key West is a city and an island by the same name near the southernmost tip of the Florida Keys and encompasses the namesake island, the part of Stock Island north of US 1, Sigsbee Park and Sunset Key.

Many passenger cruise ships utilize Key West as a seaport. Key West International Airport also serves the area. Naval Air Station Key West offers a training site for Naval Aviation.

Key West is officially known for having the nation’s first and oldest continuous gay and lesbian chamber of commerce. Thus the city’s motto “One Human Family”

Kay West was inhabited by ancient peoples known as the Calusa People in Pre-Columbian times. Juan Ponce De Leon was the first European to visit the area and the island was known as Cayo Hueso. It was established as a fishing and salvage village with a small fort to protect the Spanish colony.

Cayo Hueso literally means “bone key” as it is said that the island is littered with the bones from an Indian battlefield or burial ground. It is thought that the name changed to Key West is an Anglicization of the word “Hueso” that could mean west in English. Many businesses on the island use the name.

Great Britain took control of Florida in the late 1700′s and relocated the Spaniards and Indians to Havana. Florida passed back to the Spanish 20 years later but they did not formally resettle. The island was used by fishermen from Cuba and joined by fishermen from the United States.

The island was deeded to Juan Pablo Salis in 1815 but when Florida was transferred to the United States Salas was eager to sell the island. First he sold it for a sloop valued at $575 and then to a US businessman named Simonton for about $2,000. The sloop trader sold it to a man named Geddes who could not secure rights to the property because Simonton had help from influential friends in Washington and gained clear title. Simonton bought the island because he had learned of the opportunities presented by the strategic location. Simonton’s friend John Whitehead, once stranded on the islands by a shipwreck had seen the deep harbor.

Lying 90 in a strategic location on the deep shipping lane Straits of Florida the harbor was considered the “Gibraltar of the West”. Matthew Perry said into the harbor in 1822 and physically planted the US flag to claim it as US property. He reported on the piracy problems and renamed it “Thompson’s Island” and named the harbor “Port Rodgers”. Neither name stuck. In 1823 Commodore David Porter took charge and tried to rule the island as a military dictator under martial law.

Simonton soon subdivided the island into plots and sold 3 undivided quarters of each plot to private individuals. Simonton spent the winter in Key West and then the summer in Washington to lobby for development of the island and for the establishment of a naval base. Among other first founders are Pardon Green who moved there permanently and became a prominent businessman. John Whitehead lived there for 8 years and partnered with Greene in the firm of “P.C. Greene and Company”. He left the island for good in 1832 returning only once during the Civil War. John Fleeming, active in the mercantile business in Alabama was a friend of Simonton. He spent only a few months in Key West before leaving to marry in Massachusetts. He returned to Key West intending to develop the slat manufacturing of the island but died soon after. The names of these founding fathers of modern Key West used as names for the main arteries of the island.

Many residents of Key West emigrated from the Bahamas. They were known as Counch. They arrived in ever increasing numbers after 1830. Sons and daughters of Loyalists fled to the nearest British soil during the American Revelation. Many of residents of Key West refer to themselves as Conchs and the term is now generally applied to all residents of Key West. The term “Fresh Water Counch” refers to a resident not “native born” but who has lived there for more than seven years. The name is derived from the tradition of placing a conch shell on a pole at the home of a new born baby.

“Bahama Village” is an area of Old town next to the Truman Annex largely inhabited by Bahaman immigrants.

Fishing, salt production and ocean salvage were major industries in the early 19th century. The salvage operations made Key West the largest and richest city in Florida and residents had a high concentration of fine furniture and fancy chandeliers which the locals used in their homes after taking them from shipwrecks on the Florida reefs.

During the Civil War Fort Zachary Taylor was established in Key West after Florida seceded and joined the confederate States of America. It was an important outpost and now contains the largest collection of Civil War cannons ever discovered in a single location.

In 1912 Key West was connected to the Florida mainland via the Overseas Railway extension. The railway created a landfill at Trumbon Point for rail yards. In 1935 the Labor Day Hurricane destroyed much of the railroad and hilled hundreds. About 400 World War I veterans living in camps there working on federal road projects and mosquito control projects in the Middle Keys were also killed. It was too expensive to restore the railroad. In 1938 The Federal Government rebuilt the rail lines as an automobile highway. Completed in 1938 it became an extension of the US Highway 1. The portion of US 1 running though the Keys is called the Overseas Highway.

Numerous artists and writers have come to the Keys but the two most associated with the island are Ernest Hemmingway and Tennessee Williams. Hemmingway reportedly wrote 2 novels “A Farewell to Arms” and “To Have and Have Not” while living in the Keys. The Ernest Hemingway House and Sloppy Joes Bar have become important tourist’s attractions. The Hemingway House is currently inhabited by six or seven toed polydactyl cats descended form Hemingway’s original pert named “Snowball”. The cats live on the grounds and are cared for by the Hemingway House even though the USDA complains about the number of them housed there. The Key West City Commission exempted the house from a law prohibiting more than four domestic animals per household.

Tennessee Williams is said to have written the first draft of “A Streetcar Named Desire” while staying at the La Concha Hotel. He bought a permanent house and listed Key West as his permanent residence. Williams’ home in the “unfashionable” New Town neighborhood is quite the contrast to the elegant Hemingway house. It is a very modest bungalow. The house is privately owned and is not open to the public. The Tenn4essee Williams Theatre is located on the campus of Florida Keys Community College on Stock Island.

Key West is much closer to Havana than to Miami. In 1890 it had a population of nearly 18,800 which made it the richest and biggest city in Florida. The population was nearly half Cuban descent and the city had a succession of Cuban mayors. Cubans were reportedly active in nearly 200 factories in town producing cigars.

The Battleship Maine was blown up after sailing from Key West to Havana which ignited the Spanish American War.

Pan American Airlines was founded in Key West to fly visitors to Havana.

John Kennedy used the phrase “90 miles to Cuba” in his speeches against Fidel Castro.

There were regular ferry and airplane services between Key West and Havana until the revelation in 1959. Refugees flooded into Key West during the Mariel Boatlift and continue to come across the dangerous stretch of waters.

In 1982 Key West and the rest of the Keys tried to declare independence and become the “Conch Republic” in a protest over US Border Patrol blockades. The blockade was set up in response to the Mariel Boatlift. This blockade created a 17 mile traffic jam when the Border Patrol stopped every car to search for illegal immigrants. The Florida Keys were virtually paralyzed as tourism nearly ground to a halt. Couch Republic flags and T shirts are still popular souvenirs for visitors. The Counch Republic Independence Celebration is celebrated each April 23.

Key West was always an important military post. At the beginning of World War II the Navy built the first water line extending the length of the Keys to serve the Naval Air Station. The main facility on Boca Chica is where the navy trains pilots. There are 3400 civilians and 16oo active duty military personnel along with family members. The area next to the old For Taylor became a submarine pen and was used for the Fleet Sonar School.

The majority of us thinks that woodworking is a futile task because you feel that only master craftsman with years of experience can create worthwhile stuff. But this is not true because we all have to start somewhere, even the masters. They also had to start with simple woodworking projects. Woodworking is a talent learned over time and it is not something innate in us all. There are several things that one has to keep in mind when starting with simple woodworking projects.

It’s amazing what you can do with just basic carpentry tools. Before you throw yourself into this new hobby, try to gather as much information as you can. Research various techniques and different tools, both modern and medieval carpentry tools, to familiarize yourself with all aspects of carpentry.

Researching the different kinds of wood and their uses is something you should do. This type of research will help you complete your simple woodworking projects. Luckily there is lot of information available to you today. You can use books and magazines to find hints and ideas and you can use the Internet. There are many websites that can help beginners with woodworking.

If you want to get started on some simple woodworking projects, sign up for some instructional classes. Local community colleges often have beginner classes for adult learners which are not expensive or overly time consuming. From these classes, you can gain a familiarity with basic techniques. Additionally, they will educate you properly in safety so that your simple woodworking projects will not end in injury causing you to abandon your new hobby out of fear of future accidents.

When you feel ready to start working on your own project, try to keep it simple at first, like a woodworking project that only requires hand tools. There are also kits available with pre-cut and appropriately sized wood pieces that just require you to put the object together. This will allow you to get familiarize yourself with how various parts fit together, without having to worry about how to operate the machinery.

When it comes to tools and machinery, starting small and working your way up is the way to go. Begin with a couple of hand tools and then add on when you can afford to and when you are at ease using the tool. Each time you buy a tool, make sure it is of high quality. Once you feel comfortable doing the woodworking projects, you can turn to more advanced projects. No matter what kind of experience you have with woodworking, make to keep safety a priority.

But When it Comes to plans and DIY ideas all you need is

www.woodworking4home.us

Our website has more information, tips and tricks.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/hobbies-articles/simple-woodworking-projects-getting-started-1692340.html

If you want to take on a challenging and fun activity this weekend, you may want to look into creating your own simple woodworking project. As a challenging pastime, or as a handy do it yourself skill, woodworking projects are a great way to improve your skills and expertise, test your abilities, and create a unique work of woodworking art!

If you’re new to the wonderful world of woodworking don’t worry. All you need to learn to get started are some basic fundamentals. You don’t even need a workshop full of tools to create beautiful, unique woodworking projects. All that’s needed is a desire and a willingness to learn.

You may want to keep your projects very simple to begin with. Check out your local hobby shop or hardware store to see what types of simple, prefabricated projects are available. Most of these projects require only a limited number of tools that are commonly found in most homes.

If you want to start moving onto more difficult projects, or you want to just jump right into something more challenging, the internet is a great source for finding simple woodworking projects of all sorts. But, if you’re a beginner, remember to keep your first few projects fairly simple. You want something that’s within your ability level, and something you’ll be able to accomplish without getting discouraged.

Once you find the project you will complete, begin by breaking the entire process down into steps. It’s best to start with a project that already provides you with step by step instructions on how to get from beginning to end, but if you can’t find one, you will just need to create it yourself. Take your time creating this process, as it’s very important to the success of your project.

After your step by step process is created, go over it as a whole to see whether or not this project is something that’s achievable for you at this moment in time, given your current skill level. If it’s not something that you feel you can accomplish right now, that’s quite alright. Just keep that project on your ‘to do’ list for the future, when your expertise reaches the level needed to complete it properly.

If it is something that you feel you’ll be able to complete, that’s great! Now it’s time to get to work! Create a list of all of the items you’ll need to gather. You will also want to create a list of all of the pieces of equipment that you will need for this project. If you do not have a certain tool, see if there’s an alternative that you can use to accomplish the same task. If not, you may have to rent a tool to do the job, or you may have to postpone the project entirely. The last thing you would want would be to get half way through a project, only to realize that you don’t have the tools needed to complete it.

Above all else, keep it simple and fun, and get creative wherever possible! And get ready to amaze yourself with what you’re able to accomplish!

Jeff Harris is the owner of The wood working guide website. Jeff is a contributing writer to www.woodworking4home.us – providing information on woodworking. Jeff has written about finding ideas for woodworking projects.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/hobbies-articles/find-simple-woodworking-projects-1692401.html