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Market Value-to-Sales Ratio

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Question

Which of the following is the ratio of a company's total market value (price times number of shares) divided by sales?

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A. B. C. D.

A

The ratio that represents a company's total market value divided by its sales is known as the "Price to Sales ratio." This ratio is commonly used by investors and analysts to evaluate a company's valuation and its revenue generation capabilities.

The Price to Sales ratio is calculated by dividing the market value of a company (which is determined by multiplying the price per share by the total number of shares outstanding) by the total sales or revenue generated by the company over a specific period, typically a fiscal year.

Let's break down the other options to further understand why they are not the correct answer:

B. Price to book value ratio: This ratio compares a company's stock price to its book value per share. Book value is calculated by subtracting a company's total liabilities from its total assets. The Price to Book value ratio is used to assess whether a stock is overvalued or undervalued based on its book value. It is not the ratio of market value divided by sales.

C. Debt coverage ratio: The Debt coverage ratio is a financial metric used to assess a company's ability to cover its interest and principal payments on its outstanding debt. It compares the company's operating income or earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) to its interest and principal obligations. This ratio is used to evaluate a company's debt repayment capacity and financial stability, and it is not directly related to the ratio of market value divided by sales.

D. Leverage ratio: The Leverage ratio is a measure of a company's financial leverage or the extent to which it relies on debt financing. It compares a company's total debt to its equity capital. The leverage ratio indicates the proportion of debt in a company's capital structure and its ability to meet its financial obligations. However, it is not the ratio of market value divided by sales.

Therefore, the correct answer to the question is A. Price to sales ratio, as it specifically represents the ratio of a company's total market value (price times number of shares) divided by its sales or revenue.