MarketXLS

Current Ratio (Historical)

Returns historical current ratio for a company. This liquidity ratio measures a company's ability to pay short-term obligations due within one year. It is calculated as Current Assets divided by Current Liabilities.

Formula

Current Ratio = Current Assets / Current Liabilities

Supported Symbols

Type Format Example
US Stocks SYMBOL AAPL, MSFT
ETFs SYMBOL SPY, QQQ
International SYMBOL SHOP, TSM

Parameters

Parameter Description
Symbol Stock ticker symbol
Year Fiscal year (2020, 2021) or period code (lq, ly, lt)
Quarter Optional: 1, 2, 3, or 4 for quarterly data
TTM Optional: Set to "TTM" for trailing twelve months

Interpretation

Value Interpretation
> 2.0 Strong liquidity position
1.5 - 2.0 Healthy liquidity
1.0 - 1.5 Adequate but watch closely
< 1.0 May have difficulty paying short-term obligations

Notes

  • A ratio above 1 means current assets exceed current liabilities
  • Industry norms vary significantly
  • Too high a ratio may indicate inefficient use of assets

Syntax

=hf_Current_Ratio(Symbol, Year, [Quarter], [TTM])
Excel Desktop (Windows)

Parameters

symbolstringRequired

Stock ticker symbol

yearstringRequired

Fiscal year or period code (lq, ly, etc.)

quarterstring

Calendar quarter (1-4)

TTMstring

Set to 'TTM' for trailing twelve months

Returns

number

Current ratio (Current Assets / Current Liabilities)

Examples

=hf_Current_Ratio("AAPL", 2023)
Apple current ratio
=hf_Current_Ratio("MSFT", 2023, 2)
Microsoft Q2 2023
=hf_Current_Ratio("GOOGL", "ly")
Alphabet last fiscal year
=hf_Current_Ratio("JNJ", 2023, , "TTM")
J&J TTM
=hf_Current_Ratio(A1, B1, C1)
Cell references

When to Use

  • Analyzing liquidity trends over time
  • Credit analysis and risk assessment
  • Comparing liquidity across periods
  • Financial health monitoring
  • Detecting deteriorating working capital

When NOT to Use

Scenario Use Instead
Need current period only current_ratio()
Need quick ratio quick_ratio()
Need current assets hf_Total_Current_Assets()
Need current liabilities hf_Total_Current_Liabilities()

Common Issues & FAQ

Why is Apple's current ratio below 1?

Large, financially strong companies like Apple can operate with lower current ratios due to strong cash flow generation and access to credit.

What's a good current ratio?

Generally 1.5-2.0, but it varies by industry. Retail often has lower ratios; utilities tend to have higher.

Why am I getting "NA"?

Check that the symbol is valid and the company has reported current assets and liabilities.

Excel Templates Using Current Ratio (Historical)

These ready-made MarketXLS templates call hf_Current_Ratio() in their worksheet formulas. Open one to see the function working inside a complete model.

Related Formulas

More MarketXLS Historical Fundamentals formulas you can use in the same worksheet:

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