Problem 1: Snider Industries sells on terms of 2/10, net 45. Total sales for the year are $1,500,000. Thirty percent of customers pay on the 10th day and take discounts; the other 70% pay, on average, 50 days after their purchases.

a. What is the days sales outstanding?

b. What is the average amount of receivables?

c. What would happen to average receivables if Snider toughened its collection policy with the result that all nondiscount customers paid on the 45th day?

Problem 2: The D.J. Masson Corporation needs to raise $500,000 for 1 year to supply working capital to a new store. Masson buys from its suppliers on terms of 3/10, net 90, and it currently pays on the 10th day and takes discounts. However, it could forgo the discounts, pay on the 90th day, and thereby obtain the needed $500,000 in the form of costly trade credit. What is the effective annual interest rate of this trade credit?

Problem 3: Negus Enterprises has an inventory conversion period of 50 days, an average collection period of 35 days, and a payables deferral period of 25 days. Assume that cost of goods sold is 80% of sales.

a. What is the length of the firm's cash conversion cycle?

b. If Negus's annual sales are $4,380,000 and all sales are on credit, what is the firm's investment in accounts receivable?

c. How many times per year does Negus Enterprises turn over its inventory?

Problem 4: Strickler Technology is considering changes in its working capital policies to improve its cash flow cycle. Strickler's sales last year were $3,250,000 (all on credit), and its net profit margin was 7%. Its inventory turnover was 6.0 times during the year, and its DSO was 41 days. Its annual cost of goods sold was $1,800,000. The firm had fixed assets totaling $535,000. Strickler's payables deferral period is 45 days.

a. Calculate Strickler's cash conversion cycle.

b. Assuming Strickler holds negligible amounts of cash and marketable securities, calculate its total assets turnover and ROA.

c. Suppose Strickler's managers believe the annual inventory turnover can be raised to 9 times without affecting sales.What would Strickler's cash conversion cycle, total assets turnover, and ROA have been if the inventory turnover had been 9 for the year?