Devised in the 1960s by Edward Altman, a Z score indicates the probability of a company entering bankruptcy within the next two years. The higher the Z score, the lower the probability of bankruptcy. A score above three indicates that bankruptcy is unlikely; a score below 1.8 indicates that bankruptcy is possible.
It works by analysing the financial strength of a company using five balance-sheet and profit-and-loss-account measures profit to total assets, retained earnings to total assets, working capital to total assets, sales to total assets and market capitalisation to total assets. These are then weighted to reflect their relative importance before being combined into a single figure, the Z score.
MoneyWeek
Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE
Sign up to Money Morning
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
-
Young workers exiting UK over tax and economic outlook concerns, warn wealth managersYoung professionals are scoping out cities and countries with lower tax burdens and a greater quality of life, according to wealth managers
-
Savers tell Reeves: we'll snub stocks and shares ISAs even if cash limit is cutChancellor Rachel Reeves could find her rumoured plans to get Britain investing in UK Plc by cutting the cash ISA limit backfire as most savers have said they still wouldn’t switch to stocks and shares if she goes ahead with the move
