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Working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic

Day trading stocks can be a successful way to create income- but it’s not easy. Many people want to make a profit in this bear market, but there are many challenges that day traders face in the COVID-19 era. This TradingSim article will explore how the real benefits and costs of being a day trader. The article will also teach day traders how to trade stocks from home and help them find the best strategies and stock picks to become a successful trader.

How do you get started day trading part-time?

Day trading involves quickly trading securities several times a day. Traders buy and sell stocks often throughout a trading day to make a quick profit. Volatility in the stock market helps day traders make a larger profit. However, stock fluctuations can backfire if a trader trades too hastily or makes a bad trade.

When is the best time to trade?

The best time to day trading is at the start of the day at 9:30 AM EST. The first hour of the trading day can be the most pivotal because there is more liquidity, when there is a higher volume of trading in the first trading hour. and there is the most volatility at the start of the trading day.

The other ideal time to day trade stocks is at the end of the trading day from 3 PM-4PM EST. Just as at the beginning of the trading day, high volatility at the end of the day can help day traders maximize profits.

What is a good day trading strategy?

Before traders get serious about day trading, they have to make some important decisions. Here are some things to consider before they start day trading stock strategy.

Determine whether you have the time and patience to day trade. Day trading is not a hobby. It’s a time-consuming job that takes up hours of a trader’s day. Even though day trading moves fast, a lot of methodical thinking is required to day trade stocks. Day traders also need excellent math skills, risk-taking abilities, and discipline to study the changes in the stock market.
Study the stock market. Day traders need to diligently study the stock market to be a successful trader. Traders have to possess a wide range of financial knowledge to withstand the ups and downs of the Dow Jones and NASDAQ. It can take years to master the stock market, so studying the nuances of the market is essential.
Study the different securities to trade. Day traders not only trade stocks. Traders have to research ETFs, foreign currency, or other assets to trade if they want to branch out beyond stocks. Novice traders may not realize that there are different rules and strategies for various assets.
Practice trading with simulated trading. Before traders risk their own capital, they should test their trading strategies. TradingSim would be a perfect outlet for traders to try out simulated trades before they decide to risk real money in the markets.
Start small, then expand. Once a trader has the capital, they should still slowly delve into trading stocks. Day traders should start small to minimize risk. If a day trader suffers losses, it won’t be as devastating if there is less money on the line. When a trader experiences success after three months, they can incrementally put more money into the markets. If they are still struggling after 90 days, they should maintain or even decrease the amount they have invested.

How much money do day traders need to start?

While there is no set amount to start day trading stocks, there is an amount that should be sufficient to weather the unpredictability of the stock market. When a day trader is ready to invest, they must have a lot of money saved to quickly buy and sell shares.

A trader should have at least $10,000 in disposable income ready to invest in the stock market. The Securities Exchange Commission notes that ideally, a day trader should have at least $25,000 in their day trading accounts. If a potential trader can’t afford to risk that much capital to withstand market volatility, they aren’t ready to day trade stocks.

A beginning day trader’s account also depends on what asset is being sold. To buy stocks, a trader needs at least $25,000. However, for day trading futures, $10,000 is recommended. For trading forex, $100 is likely the lowest amount needed. No matter what asset day traders buy and sell, all traders shouldn’t risk more than 1% of their trading income on one trade. For instance, if a day trader has $25,000 in their account, they should risk more than $2,500 on a single trade.

What equipment does a day trader need to work from home?

In order to treat day trading stocks like a work-from-home business, a day trader needs the right equipment. Traders should invest in a trading machine and trading software. Day traders should also have two monitors to watch charts and data.

The most important day trading equipment may be a steady internet connection. With a reliable wi-fi connection, traders have less risk of missing important trades if there’s an internet crash. A backup internet connection is also recommended for traders who are day trading at home.

Why is there a resurgence in day trading stocks?

Once investors start day trading stocks, they can join a plethora of new investors. There has been a recent revival in day trading for two key reasons. The recent volatility in the stock market has led many people to try to make money by day trading stocks.

Goldman Sachs analysts noted that the new influx of traders is driving movement in the options market.

“Investors are increasingly asking us about the participation of individual investors in the shares and options market. Our data suggests that individual investors are indeed a significant proportion of daily volume, ” noted Goldman Sachs analysts.

Sports betting drought leads to day trading increase

Another reason for the resurgence in day trading stocks is strangely enough because of sports. COVID-19 shut down sports events, so there were fans missing games to watch- and bet on as well. Instead of betting on the performance of LeBron James, gamblers are now betting on the performance of Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) stock.

In addition to trading on their own, sports gamblers are also following the stock picks from the head of a sports website. Barstool Sports’ Dave Portnoy has picked winning stocks during this bear market. He compares day trading in the current market to the unpredictability of a sports event.

“With the volatility, it is kind of like watching a sports game,” said Portnoy.

Jim Bianco is president and macro strategist at Bianco Research and monitors day trading trends. He noted that young gamblers are moving to day trading with the latest sports hiatus.

“Sports gambling is a huge business in this country and a lot of sports gamblers and a lot of these millennial gamers are now playing the stock market, day trading,” said Bianco.

What are the benefits of day trading?

After Buffett dropped his airline holdings, Portnoy bought stock in the troubled industry. When the airline stocks rebounded, he felt vindicated as a budding financial expert.

“I’m a little surprised that it’s become pretty well known within the financial community. That’s kind of our target audience regardless of what we’re covering and I think Barstool was popular in those circles to begin with,” said Portnoy.

Portnoy’s contrarian investing is a day trading strategy that can work if a day trader is diligent and studies the markets well. If a day trader is savvy with their trades, they may profit from going against the popular opinion of Wall Street experts.

Zero-commission apps lead to more day trading

The rise of Robinhood and other zero-commission trading apps are helping drive the rise of day trading. Andrew Laphorne is a stock analyst at Societe Generale. He said that new day traders bought cheap stocks as the economy cratered and profited as the market is slowly rebounding now.

“For all the mocking of Robinhood investors, their timing back into the market looks impeccable, with a significant pick-up in holdings as equity markets bottomed in mid-March,” noted Laphorne.

Airlines rebound with new day traders

Despite Warren Buffett selling airline stocks, young day traders are lifting the industry back up. An airline ETF, JETS, saw its value rise a whopping 2,000%. Millennial day traders purchasing the ETF led to its rebound.

Frank Holmes, chief executive officer of JETS issuer U.S. Global Investors, loves the recovery. He believes that young day traders buying the dip helped JETS’ value grow to $1 billion.

“All these millennials, being stuck at home with no bars to go to and no beaches to travel to, took their money and became day traders. They’re bored, they want to make money,” said Holmes.

Financial advisors cheer new growth in day trading stocks

Many financial advisors welcome the new breed of day traders. Nate Geraci is president of the investment advisory firm, the ETF Store. He sees Portnoy as a social media savvy version of investing giant Warren Buffett. Geraci also credits Portnoy for making day trading entertaining to his millennial followers.

“It’s really been a perfect storm. Investors are seeing firsthand the thrill of victory, the agony of defeat, and he’s doing it with large sums of money, so I think for younger investors, that’s really enticing,” said Geraci.

Day trading may be best for people who want to make quick profits from short sales. For short-term investors, day trading can be a quick way to earn money. Josh Brown is the chief executive of Ritholz Wealth Management and says day traders are just having fun day trading stocks.

“They’re not expecting to retire off of trading stocks. They’re having fun and they’re learning the market, and I think it’s great,” said Brown.

Day trading can also best for self-starters who want to work independently. Day trading stocks may be best for traders who learn best by learning on their own.

What are the risks of day trading?

While there are some benefits to day trading stocks, there are many risks associated with day trading.

Despite his recent success with day trading, Portnoy cautions that his Twitter followers shouldn’t heed all his financial advice.

“I’m not a financial advisor. Don’t trust anything I say about stocks,” said Portnoy.

While Portnoy’s day trading venture is currently paying off, it’s risky to follow advice from people who aren’t financial experts. In addition to not listening to experts, day traders shouldn’t just follow their emotions. Making rash trades based on emotion leads to more losses. Traders who buy and sell stocks without stop-loss limits can risk losing more capital than they can afford.

Day traders can lose a lot of money if they don’t limit their number of trades. Trading too much can lead to a lot of fees for traders. Setting stop-loss orders can help minimize risk. Many traders also buy stocks on margin and borrow too much money to trade stocks. Day traders should stick to a set limit on how much to trade and not depend too much on margin and leverage.

Financial experts warn about day trading inexperience

Day trading novices may feel a rush from their new venture, but there are risks. Caleb Silver, Investopedia’s editor-in-chief, believes that day trading beginners should be cautious with the large volatility in the stock market.

“People are new to trading and new to investing and want to take advantage of these wild swings,” said Silver.

“These are the most dangerous times to start day trading … This is when people really get hurt,” added Silver.

Silver noted that day traders must know their limits when trading so they don’t lose too much money.

“This is a super volatile time. You could lose your shirt in a day. You could gain two shirts back the next day, but you have to know what your limits are,” said Silver.

Mark Cuban cautions about day trading boom

Shark Tank star and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is wary about the day trading boom. He thinks that zero-commission costs enable day traders to take more unnecessary risks.

“We have day traders who are able to go into margin with next to 0% interest. They’ve got nothing else to do. Their transaction costs are zero,” said Cuban.

Cuban also believes that once the economy slows again, there will be huge sell-off among day traders.

“You can also make the argument that this whole run-up is just buying the rumor. Once we start to really have definitive data on the other side, people are going to sell on the news, and if I had to make a bet, that’s it,” said Cuban.

Cuban also noted that the resurgence in the stock market will depend on how many workers are rehired.

“A key question is how many workers will be rehired and how consumer spending will fare once enhanced unemployment benefits end on July 31,” noted Cuban.

Cuban doesn’t think that day traders are fully prepared for another economic slowdown.

“We don’t know if all the jobs are going to be there, and we don’t know what happens with demand. I don’t think the market is truly understanding the challenges that we may be facing,” added Cuban.

Day trading rarely leads to profits

In addition to the risk of losing money, there is the risk of not earning much money at all. While many day traders tout the quick money that can be made, those profits rarely come through. A Brazilian study found that only 0.1% of day traders earned more than the nation’s minimum wage after almost a year of day trading stocks. The study noted the poor success rate of independent day traders.

“97% of them lost money, only 0.4% earned more than a bank teller (US$54 per day), and the top individual earned only US$310 per day with great risk (a standard deviation of US$2,560). Additionally, we find no evidence of learning by day trading,” noted the study.

Day traders should expect to lose a lot of money before they see any profits. Even if traders earn any income, they can lose portions of their wins through high taxes. Short-term gains are taxed at a higher rate than long-term capital gains.

What advice do day traders give?

Day traders can get advice from more experienced traders. Jason Bond is an experienced trader that touts his experience as a trader.

“Having trained multiple clients who’ve gone from cubicles with small trading accounts between $10,000 to $37,000 to successful, full-time day traders, making millions in just a few years, I have verified proof people can make the leap from their career to trading full time,” said Bond.

Bond also suggests that beginning day traders should get mentors to help them navigate the ups and downs of the markets.

“The best way to become a day trader is to learn from existing profitable day traders. There’s an overwhelming amount of theoretical material on the internet about how to day trade, but nothing beats learning from someone who is currently successful at it,” said Bond.

Day trading expert Brandon Wendell also says that not holding stocks for too long can lower risk.

“One of the best ways to control risk is limiting the length of the trade. The longer you are in a position, the greater the likelihood is that price could move against you. By day trading, you eliminate overnight and weekend risk, especially when you trade markets that close, like stocks,” said Wendell.

Discipline is key to day trading stocks

While Bond had success as a trader, many other day traders note that success doesn’t come easily. Deeyana Angelo is a managing director of Market Stalkers. She stresses that being a day trader requires a lot of training and discipline.

“Becoming a day trader is something that a lot of people see as an easy way to make money where you don’t need much experience – just click a few buttons and hey presto, you’re rich! But nothing is further from the truth,” said Angelo.

Brandon Wendell, an investment expert, noted that limiting risk and not holding stocks for too long is key to success as a day trader.

“Day trading is a very difficult performance discipline, much like becoming a professional football player or playing a musical instrument to a virtuoso level. You first need to have a natural talent, followed by years of practice,” added Angelo.

Merlin Rothfeld is an investment strategist that studies day trading. Rothfeld advises investors who are day trading stocks to be patient because they will monitoring screens all day. Rothfeld also doesn’t want traders to stray from a well-thought-out trading strategy out of fear or haste.

“Quite often, day traders will take trades because they are just sitting in front of their screen all day. A forced trade is generally going to be a losing trade. Always follow your rules,” said Rothfeld.

How much do day traders make?

A day trader’s salary can vary greatly. If a trader is working independently, they face an uphill climb to a steady salary. Freelance day trading is similar to a sales position. There are times when income is high, especially if trades are executed well. A day trader may also make very little money if the stock market tumbles or a trading strategy backfires.

An independent day trader’s salary will also depend on how much capital they have invested in the stock market. As noted in a previous TradingSim article about a day trader’s salary, an average day trader’s salary has a 20% annual return. If a trader has $100,000 in an account, they may have profits of $20,000 in the best-case scenario.

Day trading for a firm has a more stable salary. According to ZipRecruiter, the average salary of a day trader is $80,000. However, that depends on experience and the city a trader is located in as well.

If a day trader has years of experience and lives in a small town, that’s a substantial amount of money. However, if a day trader has substantial debt from buying stocks on margin, lives in a major city, and has other major expenses, that amount may not go as far as originally thought.

How does day trading at home compare to working from a firm?

There are many differences between day trading stocks at home and at a proprietary trading firm. When a day trader is working from home, they have more flexibility. Day trading stocks requires a lot of studying and commitment. Traders can focus on the stock market in their home offices and their trades without distractions in a noisy firm. Day traders can also keep more of their profits than a trader in a firm.

However, there are downsides as well. Many distractions from friends, family, and IT emergencies can derail a trading day. Day trading at home means that they have to shoulder economic burdens on their own.

For day traders in private trading firms, there are some advantages. Day traders in an office can have more help on a trading floor from more experienced traders. Day trading with a firm’s funds lessens a financial burden of day traders.

There disadvantages of being a day trader in a proprietary firm as well. Day traders in proprietary firms are just paid as contractors and not salaried employees. They also keep less of their profits than an independent trader. Day traders in firms often have to pay for training fees or give their employers a cut of their profits.

How does day trading at home compare to other work-from-home jobs?

Day trading can be much more challenging than other work-from-home jobs. There is a range of jobs that pay less and some that pay more than day trading at home.

Working from home is a growing option. A study from Upwork and the Freelancers Union found that over 50% of workers were working from home just three years ago. After the COVID-19 pandemic, that number is sure to increase.

If a trader from home can make $40,000 a year on average, there are jobs that pay less. Virtual assistants that perform administrative duties can make on average $26,000 a year. Freelance writers can earn a range from $10,000 to $30,000 a year.

Those careers pay less than an average day trader’s salary. There are some work-from-home jobs that pay more like in the customer service industry.

Brie Reynolds is a career development expert at work-from job site FlexJobs. She notes that customer service is an in-demand job that can pay more steadily than day trading stocks at home.

“Customer Service is the No. 1 field for remote jobs right now. This is a field without a lot of barriers to entry in terms of experience or education levels. Unemployed retail workers who enjoy helping people may be able to use their skills in communication, problem- solving and sales to transition to a remote customer service job,” said Reynolds.

Customer service jobs may pay as much as $60,000 a year. Data and IT work-from home jobs are the most lucrative. Data analysts can make $50,000 a year. A website support specialist can earn $100,000 a year.

Some jobs pay less and some are more lucrative than day trading from home. Day trading is on average at the low end of the spectrum with earnings of $20,000-$30,000 a year

How do day traders find the best stocks?

As noted in a previous TradingSim article about finding the best stocks to day trade, there are methods to pick top stocks. Day traders should look for stocks that have high volume to move quickly in and out of their positions. They can monitor them on financial websites like Yahoo Finance. TradingSim charts enable day traders to simulate trading and test out their strategies before investing in stocks.

Below are five stocks that would be best for day traders that are day trading at home.

1. Apple

As a TradingSim article noted, Apple(NASDAQ:AAPL) is a perfect stock for day traders. Apple is moving 22 million shares are bought and sold daily. The tech giant’s high volume makes the stock attractive to day traders.

Financial experts rate Apple as a buy

Many financial experts think that Apple is a buy in this bull market. Todd Gordon is managing director at Ascent Wealth Partners and monitors Apple stock. He believes that Apple stock can rise 40% over the next few weeks.

“If you look at the three advances since 2013, each has been at least 130% followed by a one-third giveback. The current advance is only 66%, so we can easily — if history is to repeat — see another 70% in years to come, putting us at $490 potentially,” said Gordon.

Steve Chiavarone, portfolio manager at Federated Hermes, also believes that a strong balance sheet and consumer demand will drive high volumes of Apple stock.

“Growth has been the new defensive. Strong cash flows have met strong balance sheets which means you haven’t been under pressure because you needed external financing, and your return on capital is safe,” said Chiavarone.

He also believes Apple “consumers have pent-up demand. They have stockpiled savings, and we expect the consumer to have a good second half.”

Charts show Apple stock a top pick for day traders

Blue Line Capital President Bill Baruch noted that charts show that Apple avoided a death cross. A death cross is when the 50-day moving average moves below the 200-day moving average. Apple has avoided that drop, which makes it a top pick for day trading, according to Baruch.

“It broke out above last year’s high, a big resistance level at $327. Now, that is support, and overall you also have a rising trend line from the lows in March, and for me $327 to $330 is going to be a huge support level,” said Baruch.

“I also want to point out that it did not get the death cross, and the fact that the 50-day moving average rejected crossing below the 200-day moving average in May — it fueled the upside as it has done in many of the tech stocks,” added Baruch.

Apple’s high volume of stock movement and bullish analysis from financial experts make the stock a top pick for day traders.

2. Facebook

As noted in a TradingSim e-book, Facebook(NASDAQ:FB) is a favorite stock for day traders. Facebook has 25 million shares moving daily. The liquidity makes Facebook an ideal stock for day traders to quickly exit positions. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg noted that the company’s success depends on its Marketplace division and dependence on small businesses.

“Overall, though, our business depends on the success of small businesses. So, this is a moment where we feel that we’re well-positioned to be champions for small businesses interests and supporters of important infrastructure that they’re going to need in order to move online,” said Zuckerberg.

Financial experts bullish on Facebook stock

Financial expert Jim Woods says Facebook’s stock is outpacing other tech stocks.

“That stock is outpacing 97% of all other publicly traded companies in terms of relative price strength,” said Woods.

Citi’s Jason Bezinet predicts a $7 billion growth for the company because of its upcoming Shops e-commerce division. “

“The firm should benefit from: a) the continued growth in e-commerce and b) the growing propensity of consumers to shop within social media apps,” said Bezinet.

3. Tesla

Tesla(NASDAQ:TSLA) would be a great stock for day traders that want a stock with high volume and volatility. The corporation’s stock is trading at 16 million shares a day. The electric car company’s stock soared to $1,000 a share after a better-than-average rate of car deliveries.

Jefferies upgraded its price target of Tesla up to $1,200 after Tesla’s stock climbed. Analyst Phillipe Houchois wrote in a note to clients that coronavirus will drive consumers to want more electric automobiles like Tesla.

“We see COVID-19 as an accelerator of the transition to EVs and renewables, from consumers and public policy,” said Houchois.

Horchois also noted that Tesla is more advanced than its automobile competitors with its technology.

“Tesla remains significantly ahead of peers in product range, capacity and technology. Near term, EV-friendly incentives in the European Union and lower-priced Model 3 support second-half volume, making Tesla more resilient than peers,” wrote Horchois.

“Against expectations even a few months back, the gap with peers is widening, from product to battery tech/capacity,” added Horchois.

Some analysts bearish on Tesla stock

While Jefferies upgraded Tesla to a buy, Goldman Sachs downgraded its rating of Tesla down to neutral because of its high valuation.

“We’d look to become more positive on Tesla stock again if we had more confidence in the near to intermediate-term trajectory of fundamentals, or if valuation became more attractive. We maintain our view that the electric vehicle market offers attractive long-term growth, and we think Tesla will be able to sustain a leading position in EVs[electric vehicles] (and with solid margins),” noted Goldman Sachs.

Morgan Stanley also downgraded its rating because of something that may be a benefit to day traders- Tesla’s high volatility.

“While Tesla has long been an expensive stock, and we recognize that valuation has expanded for the entire market, we believe that there is a higher bar for Tesla’s fundamentals than other stocks that may have challenging near-term results given Tesla’s premium absolute multiple along with the historical volatility of Tesla shares,” said Morgan Stanley.

While establishment banks may disapprove of Tesla’s volatility, the high volatility and volume make the stock a good choice for day traders.

4. Microsoft

Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) is another large-cap, high-volume stock that may be good for day traders. The corporation’s stock rose after a positive Q1 2020 earnings report. Jefferies analyst Brent Thill rated Microsoft stock a solid buy. The work-from-home boom during the recent quarantine boosted its Microsoft Teams service.

“The biggest beneficiary of the new work from home environment is in the productivity suite and especially Microsoft Teams, which has seen a large spike in demand,” wrote Thill in a note to clients.

5. Roku

Roku (NASDAQ:ROKU) is a streaming disruptor that has soaring stock and volume. The company has 19 million shares moving each day. Roku will partner with Kroger to use data to attract more customers. The move led Rosenblatt analyst Mark Zgutowicz to rate Roku stock a buy.

“Roku shopper data program, launched with one of the largest global grocery retailers, shows significant potential to alleviate friction between linear and CTV ad buys,” said Zgutowitz.

Roku’s stock rose 6% this year as more customers stayed home and canceled their cable subscriptions.

The high volume of Roku stock makes it a good buy for day traders.

Laura Martin is also bullish on Roku stock as more American viewers move from cable to streaming TV services.

“Roku had 45% (40 million of 88 million) of total connected TV homes in the US at 3/31/20, and therefore we believe Roku will be the winning aggregator of streaming TV and film content apps,” said Martin.

Analysis and patience key to day trading from home

To make money quickly from day trading at home, ironically, a lot of waiting is required. Building an effective trading strategy and studying the stock market is key. Working from home as a day trader can be a nice side hustle for beginners, but not a lucrative career to retire from in 30 years.

Despite what some traders on zero-commission apps may say, day trading is not a harmless get-rich-quick scheme. The stock market is cyclical and what goes up always eventually comes down. With TradingSim’s blogs, charts, and insights, day traders can learn more about how to withstand the unpredictability in the stock market to make money in the stock market.

A quick ratio of a company can determine a lot of assets about a corporation. Similar to the Treynor Ratio, a quick ratio formula can help determine a corporation’s financial strength- or lack of strength. In this era of COVID-19 and an economic downturn, a quick ratio of a company can help investors determine if a corporation has enough liquidity to weather a financial storm. With the quick ratio formula, investors can help plan their investment strategies.

This TradingSim article will help investors calculate the quick ratios of 10 of the top corporations. In this article, I will also compare them to see which one has the most liquidity to pay off short-term debts. Investors can use this information to possibly rebalance their portfolios.

What is the quick ratio formula?

A quick ratio formula measures a company’s short-term liquidity. A quick ratio definition means that the ratio incorporates a corporation’s ability to use its cash-ready assets to pay off debt. The short-term liquidity measure is also known as the acid test. The term quick ratio comes from a company’s ability to quickly convert assets into cash.

When calculating the quick ratio of a company, the formula is as follows:

[Current assets-inventory-prepaid expenses]/current liabilities=quick ratio

When including a corporation’s marketable securities, they include common stock, certificates of deposit, or government bonds. Accounts receivable is money a customer owes a company that can be collected in 90 days.

How to calculate a quick ratio

When determining liquidity, there are specific steps to calculate the quick ratio of a company.

Run a balance sheet. Corporations can run a standard balance sheet that takes into account liability and asset information. When companies run a balance sheet, a standard balance sheet can be better than a summary balance sheet. A standard balance sheet provides more details than a summary balance sheet.
Calculate assets. A quick ratio of a company can calculate liquid assets. When calculating assets, a corporation can include cash, accounts receivable, and funds that haven’t been deposited. Corporations don’t include inventory and prepaid expenses in calculating assets. They can’t quickly be converted to cash.
After running a balance sheet and calculating assets, companies can calculate current liabilities. Short-term debt that’s paid off within a year is part of a current liability. When a company calculates liabilities, the liabilities can include payroll and accounts payable. The liabilities can also include credit card debt and payable sales tax.
Complete the quick ratio of a company. Once a corporation has calculated its assets and liabilities, that quotient will determine the ratio.

What is a good quick ratio?

In determining a good quick ratio of a company, there are some numbers that are important. A total of one is usually a good number. That quotient means that for every $1 of liability, there is $1 of assets. A ratio below one typically means that a corporation may not have enough cash to pay off short-term liabilities.

A ratio of 15 means that for every $1 of liabilities, a company has $15 of assets. While a high ratio can be good, one that is too high can be detrimental. If a ratio is too high, that means the company may not be efficiently using its cash reserve.

What does a quick ratio of a company tell investors?

Corporations on Dow Jones can determine a quick ratio of a company

When investors look at the quick ratio of a company, a quick ratio interpretation can give investors a lot of information. A low ratio can lead to a negative quick ratio interpretation. A lower ratio tells investors that a corporation doesn’t have enough liquidity to withstand a bear market. A high ratio tells investors that a company has enough cash on hand to cover near-term debt-especially in an economic downturn.

What is the difference between quick ratio vs. current ratio?

While a quick ratio of a company is one way to determine the liquidity of a company, there are other ways as well. A current ratio also measures a corporation’s short-term liquidity. However, a quick ratio is more stringent than a current ratio because it has fewer items to configure its calculations.

A current ratio is calculated as follows:

Current assets/current liabilities

In contrast to a quick ratio’s shortened criteria, a current ratio calculates more factors. While a current ratio’s formula is shorter, it includes all the current assets of a corporation. For example, a current ratio includes inventory and prepaid expenses. Those factors are excluded from a quick ratio of a company.

Another difference in current ratio vs. quick ratio is that a current ratio measures liquidity over a longer period of time. A quick ratio of a company measures assets that are converted to cash in three months.

While there are slight differences between current and quick ratios, there are similarities. Both ratios calculate the liquidity of a company. In addition, a current ratio of one and above is a good sign for a company. A current ratio below one is a sign a company can’t pay its debt.

Is a quick ratio the best measurement of a stock’s liquidity?

A company’s liquidity can help sustain it even during a difficult economic period. Despite having a poorly performing Q1 2020 and quick ratio of 0.37, upscale retailer Nordstrom’s still has strong liquidity. Even though it isn’t a value stock , Nordstrom reported it has enough liquidity to survive a worse-than-expected earnings report.

Nordstrom’s CEO, Erik Nordstrom, noted that Nordstrom still has enough liquidity to carry it through Q2 2020.

“We’re entering the second quarter in a position of strength, adding to our confidence that we have sufficient liquidity to successfully execute our strategy in 2020 and over the longer term,” said Nordstrom.

While the quick ratio of a company is not the ultimate arbiter of a stock’s financial health, it is a strong measurement to determine a company’s liquidity.

Comparison of quick ratios: Amazon vs. Walmart

Both Amazon and Walmart are the biggest retailers in the world. I will compare both corporations’ quick ratios to see which corporation can better cover short-term liabilities.

Amazon resilient in bear market

Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) is the most valuable company in the world. The online e-commerce behemoth has been a recession-proof stock during the current recession. Chantico CEO and asset allocation expert Gina Sanchez noted that Amazon has benefited from the recent quarantine.

Amazon’s quick ratio can be related to stock performance

“Amazon is the big winner in all of this because everyone [putting] off going to the grocery store has ordered directly from Amazon, has ordered anything they need from any store as most retail has been shut down from Amazon. I think Amazon has the longest, broadest story that would come out of this with the trends still intact,” said Sanchez.

Amazon is also performing so well that during a recession, the corporation hired 125,000 temporary workers since the nationwide shutdown. Amazon CFO Brian Olsavsky noted that demand for workers will grow during the summer.

“Demand has been strong and the biggest questions we have in Q2 are more about ability to service that demand,” said Olsavsky.

Amazon’s strong sales and hiring surge prove that the corporation and its stock are robust in this economic downturn.

What is Amazon’s quick ratio?

As of March 2020, Amazon’s current assets are $67.13 billion. Amazon’s current liabilities total $79.71 billion. So, the quick ratio formula is:

67.13/79.71=0.84.

Amazon’s quick ratio is 0.84. While I mentioned earlier that a quick ratio below 1 is a negative sign for a corporation, obviously Amazon is financially sound. Amazon may have other reasons why it may be more difficult for the company to meet its short-term obligations.

The quick ratio of a company may be lower than one because of high inventory turnover or increased inventory, especially in the retail industry. Inventory isn’t accounted for in a quick ratio formula.

Walmart performs well during COVID-19

Walmart(NYSE:WMT) is another stock that has performed well during the coronavirus crisis. In Walmart’s Q1 2021 earnings report, CEO Doug McMillon noted that increased sales of groceries and cleaning materials helped the corporation reach $134.62 billion while people were quarantined.

“We experienced unprecedented demand in categories like paper goods, surface cleaners, and grocery staples. For many of these items, we were selling in two or three hours what we normally sell in two or three days,” said McMillon.

Analysts rate Walmart a buy

Because of Walmart’s strong sales, financial analysts rate Walmart stock a buy. Garrett Nelson is a senior equity analyst at the CFRA research firm. Nelson rated Walmart as a strong pick for investors in a note to clients.

“Walmart remains one of our top picks, as we see it as a ‘pandemic winner’ that is likely to pick up share from the distress taking place across retail, particularly small businesses, department stores, and others levered to shopping malls,” wrote Nelson.

Neil Saunders, managing director at GlobalData Retail, also noted that Walmart is a buy-even more so than Amazon.

“That Walmart has outperformed Amazon, at least in growth terms, underlines both the deficiencies of Amazon in grocery – which generated the bulk of sales this quarter – and Walmart’s growing power in the segment,” said Neil Saunders, managing director at GlobalData Retail.

What is Walmart’s quick ratio?

As of April 2020, Walmart’s current assets excluding inventory is $22.1 billion. Walmart’s current liabilities are $82.65 billion. The equation would then be:

22.1/82.65=0.27

In comparison between Amazon and Walmart, 0.84 is greater than 0,27. Amazon’s quick ratio is higher than Walmart’s ratio.

Walmart inventory make company’s liquidity lower than Amazon’s quick ratio

Walmart has a lower quick ratio because of its increased inventory. Because Walmart has more physical inventory than Amazon, which isn’t included in quick ratios, Amazon ranks higher.

In addition to inventory, Walmart’s quick ratio is lower than Amazon’s quick ratio because of debt. Even though Amazon has expenditures of $4 billion, Walmart’s expenditures are topping $900 million for Q1 2021. Because Walmart has more inventory and increasing expenses, its quick ratio is lower than Amazon’s quick ratio.

Walmart’s expenses increased because of its extra bonuses to workers and increased spending on sanitizing store locations. Brent Biggs, Walmart’s chief financial officer, noted that added expenses could add to Walmart’s liability.

“[W]e’ve already announced a second round of special bonuses in the U.S. which that will financially hit in the second quarter,” said Biggs.

The increased expenses and physical inventory give Amazon’s quick ratio an edge over Walmart.

Comparison of quick ratios: Apple vs. Google

Apple and Google are rivals in the smartphone market with Apple’s iPhones battling Google’s Android system. Both corporations have become giants in tech with their innovation. But which company has the best quick ratio?

Apple has positive Q2 2020 earnings report

In Apple’s(NASDAQ:AAPL) Q2 2020 earnings report, Apple had an increase in revenue. The company’s iPhone sales declined because of the coronavirus slowing down production in China. Chief financial officer, Luca Maestri, noted that Apple Watches and other wearable devices still had strong sales.

“Today Apple reports $58.3 billion in revenue, an all-time record for services and a quarterly record for Wearables, Home and Accessories. It was also a quarterly revenue record for Apple Retail, powered by phenomenal growth in our online store. Amid the most challenging global environment in which we’ve ever operated our business, we are proud to say that Apple grew during the quarter,” said Maestri.

Apple stock can rise with high quick ratio

Maestri also noted that Apple would continue its growth and commit and contribute more to the U.S. economy.

“We are confident in our future and continue to make significant investments in all areas of our business to enrich our customers’ lives and support our long-term plans — including our five-year commitment to contribute $350 billion to the United States economy,” added Maestri.

Analysts pick Apple stock as a buy

Even though Apple’s sales increased in the U.S., Apple has struggled to maintain a foothold in India. Despite that, JP Morgan Chase Samik Chatterje rates Apple stock as a buy. He believes that if Apple iPhone SE sales increase in India, Apple’s price target could rise from $350 to $365.

“Apple has struggled to date to build a material presence in India on account of premium price positioning as well as other drivers,” he wrote, We estimate if Apple were able to capture roughly half of the 30 million to 35 million opportunity, it would translate into a 215 million steady annual replacement run-rate for iPhones globally and a $7 billion revenue or $0.70 cents of EPS upside,” noted Chatterje.

Evercore ISI analyst Amit Daryanani is another financial analyst that’s bullish on Apple stock. He believes that Apple is a stock that will continue to outperform.

“Apple continues to offer the best risk/reward in large-cap tech and long-term investors should use any weakness to add to positions,” said Daryanani.

Daryanani also noted that Apple could also have a $2 trillion market value in the future.

“This implies EPS growth of 14% over next several years driven by combination of operational tailwinds and buyback support,” said Daryanani.

What is Apple’s quick ratio?

As of March 31, Apple’s assets minus inventory total $140.42 billion. The company’s liabilities equal $96.09 billion. The quick ratio formula is:

140.42/96.09=1.46.

Therefore, Apple’s quick ratio is 1.46. That’s well above the standard for a quick ratio of a company.

Google Q1 2020 earnings report shows minimal fallout from ad revenue drop

Google’s (NASDAQ:GOOG) Q1 2020 earnings report was $41.16 billion, a strong showing despite a drop in ad revenue over the last few months. As a result of the economic slowdown, many corporations are not spending as much to advertise on Google as they did pre-pandemic.

YouTube drives Google revenue growth

Despite the decline in ad revenue in March, the decline wasn’t as deep as expected. YouTube has been a bright spot with its surge in revenue. The video-sharing site’s Q1 2020 revenue jumped by 36% to $15 billion. Google’s parent Alphabet chief financial officer Ruth Porat, spoke about YouTube, one of Google’s most valuable acquisitions.

“[For YouTube], the biggest part of ad revenue is Brand and we’re really excited about that and the upside there… One of the things we’re extremely focused on is ensuring that we’re providing advertisers with the tools they need to really present their brand the way they want, how they want and really to protect and measure that,” said Porat.

Analysts bullish on Google stock

Morgan Stanley analyst Brian Nowak says Google stock is a buy because the corporation is branching out into gathering health care data and moving into education.

“We are particularly positive on its emerging e-commerce products (shopping listings, virtual show rooms, deep linking, etc), focus on [small and medium-sized businesses], and efforts to drive digital transformation in the healthcare and education industries. Google’s Waymo autonomous vehicles business is also the market leader in AV technology,” said Nowak.

What is Google’s quick ratio?

In this equation to determine Google’s quick ratio, I’ll look at the current assets excluding inventory and liabilities. Google’s assets as of March are $146.13 billion. Google parent Alphabet’s liabilities total $40.19 billion. Therefore, the quick ratio formula is:

146.13/40.19=3.64

Google’s quick ratio is 3.64. That quotient is much higher than Apple’s 1.46. Google is more likely than Apple to be able to pay off short-term liabilities.

Quick ratio comparison: Twitter vs. Facebook

Trump war on social media affects Twitter stock

President Donald Trump has affected Twitter’s(NASDAQ:TWTR) stock. The social media site has been under fire from the president for fact-checking several of his latest controversial tweets and flagging some other messages. Twitter explained why it felt the need to flag a recent tweet of Trump’s for “glorifying violence.”

“We’ve taken action in the interest of preventing others from being inspired to commit violent acts, but have kept the Tweet on Twitter because it is important that the public still be able to see the Tweet given its relevance to ongoing matters of public importance,” noted Twitter.

Trump has threatened to sign an executive order to give the Federal Communications Commission more power to regulate Twitter.

While Twitter stock initially fell 4% last week after Trump’s threat, financial analysts say that Twitter stock won’t stay down for long. Baird Capital analyst Colin Sebastian wrote in a note to clients that Trump’s criticism won’t always adversely affect Twitter stock.

“It is difficult for us to see how the dispute over content moderation would meaningfully impact the vast majority of social media usage. Consequently, we would not expect any material impact on revenue, as advertisers will follow traffic and eyeballs,” wrote Sebastian.

Twitter has better-than-expected Q1 2020 earnings report

Twitter had a positive past earnings report in Q1 2020. However, Twitter had a downturn in its ad revenue.

“Revenue was $808 million in Q1, up 3% year over year, reflecting a strong start to the quarter that was impacted by widespread economic disruption related to COVID-19 in March. Reduced expenses partially offset the revenue shortfall, resulting in an operating loss of $7 million,” said Twitter.

Twitter also suffers from advertising decline

In addition to Google, Twitter also had a decline in ad revenue because of the COVID-19 crisis slowing down business. The company noted the at economic downturn hurt advertising revenue numbers.

“As an indication of the rapid change in advertising behavior, from March 11 (when many events around the world began to be canceled and we made working from home mandatory for nearly all our employees globally) until March 31, our total advertising revenue declined approximately 27% year over year,” noted Ned Segal, Twitter’s chief financial officer.

What is Twitter’s quick ratio?

As of March 2020, Twitter’s current assets minus inventory total 8467.579. Twitter’s liabilities equal 710.02. In the quick ratio formula,

8467.579/710.02=11.93

Therefore, Twitter’s quick ratio is 11.93.

Facebook stock caught in Trump tirade

Just as Twitter stock dropped slightly after challenging Trump, Facebook(NASDAQ:FB) stock dipped after the company also caught in Trump’s war on social media.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg noted that he disapproved of Trump’s attempts to control social media companies.

“I’ll have to understand what [the President] actually would intend to do, but in general I think a government choosing to censor a platform because they’re worried about censorship doesn’t exactly strike me as the right reflex there,” said Zuckerberg.

In contrast to Twitter, Facebook isn’t flagging Trump’s posts and refuses to fact-check posts on their site.

“I just believe strongly that Facebook shouldn’t be the arbiter of truth of everything that people say online. Private companies probably shouldn’t be, especially these platform companies, shouldn’t be in the position of doing that,” said Zuckerberg.

Analysts bullish on Facebook because of foray into online shopping

Before the controversy around Facebook, analysts rated Facebook as a buy. Many of them believe that the controversy will have a short-term effect on Facebook stock. Financial analysts believe that since Facebook announced an e-commerce division of the site, Facebook Shops. Deutsche Bank analysts wrote in a note to clients that Shops could be a multibillion revenue stream for Facebook.

“We think Facebook Shop in a simplistic bull case could drive up to as much as a $30 [billion] revenue opportunity, across a combination of take-rate driven transactional and advertising revenue,” wrote the analysts.

Facebook stock can be independent of a quick ratio

AB Bernstein analysts also rated Facebook stock a buy because of the new Shops venture. They believe that Facebook can be a vital part of e-commerce like Amazon.

“We have long viewed FB as the ‘rent’ to the digital economy and a core component of the online retail ecosystem,” the analysts wrote.

What is Facebook’s quick ratio?

As of March 2020, Facebook’s current assets excluding inventory are $69.349 billion. The social media’s company’s liabilities total $15.69 billion. To calculate the quick ratio formula, the equation would be as follows:

Facebook’s quick ratio formula is: 69.349-/15.69=4.60

Therefore, Twitter’s quick ratio of 11.93 is much greater than Facebook’s 4.60. Twitter has a greater ability to pay off short-term debt than Facebook.

Comparison of quick ratios: Uber vs. Lyft

Uber (NASDAQ:UBER) and Lyft (NASDAQ:LYFT) are competing ride-sharing services that have been struggling as people are staying home during the quarantine. Despite the troubles the companies are experiencing, they have different quick ratios.

Uber touts liquidity in Q1 2020 earnings report

Uber’s Q1 2020 earnings report was positive despite COVID-19’s effect on the company’s ridership numbers, creating $2.9 billion in losses. The corporation made $3.5 billion in revenue, a 14% increase. Uber’s chief financial officer, Nelson Chai, noted that the company has enough liquidity to weather the current economic volatility.

“Our ample liquidity provides us with substantial flexibility to navigate the current crisis, but we are being proactive and taking actions to emerge stronger and more focused as a company,” said Chai.

Uber also said that while ridership fell, the company had success with its food delivery service Uber Eats. CEO Dara Khosrowshahi noted that Uber stock should rise once the economy re-opens.

“Along with the surge in food delivery, we are encouraged by the early signs we are seeing in markets that are beginning to open back up,” said Khosrowshahi.

Some analysts bullish on Uber after cost cuts

Financial analysts rate Uber stock after its positive earnings report. As Uber cut its workforce, the company has cut costs. Ironically, Uber’s decision to eliminate 6,000 jobs lifted the stock up and is a good sign to CFRA analyst Angelo Zino. Zino wrote in a note to clients that Uber’s ride-sharing division can be more profitable with fewer overhead costs.

“We[CFRA] applaud [the cost savings] as it will allow the Rides segment to be profitable at a much lower run rate. We anticipate a tempered recovery in the ridesharing market without a vaccine for Covid-19, with the segment unlikely seeing previous peak volume over the next 2 years,” wrote Zino.

“That said, we see UBER being profitable on an adjusted EBITDA basis by the second half of ‘21. We believe the moves (includes office reductions) will allow UBER’s cost structure to become more variable,” added Zino.

Bank of America Securities analyst Justin Post is also bullish on Uber stock after the cost-cutting measures.

“We think these changes underscore a more focused and mature Uber and will likely result in an accelerated path to break-even if end markets recover,” wrote Post.

Other analysts see slow recovery for rideshare stocks

Even though Uber and Lyft have survived the economic slowdown, there are other financial analysts who think the ridesharing services still face an uphill climb. Wedbush analyst Dan Ives noted that Uber and Lyft need more time to recover after the economy re-opens.

“It’s still a slow thaw, and with multiple macro levers over the course of the year, and likely an even longer return to normal environment, including business travel, there’s still a long road ahead for rideshare,” said Ives.

What is Uber’s quick ratio?

As of March, Uber’s current assets are $11.11 billion. Uber’s liabilities are $6.63 billion. The quick ratio formula is:

11.11/6.63=1.68

So, Uber’s quick ratio is 1.68.

Lyft perseveres despite COVID-19

Even though Lyft stock was adversely affected by the nationwide lockdown, the company still reported good news. Lyft reported Q1 2020 sales of $955.712 million. That figure beat experts’ expectations of $897.860 million.

Lyft stock also jumped after reporting that ridership increased by 26% in May. CEO Logan Green noted that Lyft was able to withstand economic headwinds.

“While the COVID-19 pandemic poses a formidable challenge to our business, we are prepared to weather this crisis. We are responding to the pandemic with an aggressive cost reduction plan that will give us an even leaner expense structure and allow us to emerge stronger,” said Green.

Similar to Uber, Lyft’s chief financial officer Brian Roberts also noted that the corporation was reducing costs.

“In these uncertain times, we are building on that progress by taking decisive action to reduce costs and further improve our operating efficiency. We expect to remove approximately $300 million from our annual expense run-rate by the fourth quarter of 2020 relative to our original expectations for 2020,” said Roberts.

Analysts split on whether Lyft is a buy

Financial analysts are divided on whether Lyft is a buy. Piper Sandler’s Alex Potter downgraded his rating of Lyft. He believes that riders will be hesitant to enter Lyft cars because of COVID-19 fears.

“Sequential gains are encouraging, but since ride-hailing involves sharing indoor air with strangers, we expect riders may remain wary for some time,” said Potter.

While Potter is bearish on Lyft stock, Needham’s Brad Erickson is bullish on Lyft stock. He rates the ridesharing company’s stock as a buy.

“We are unwavering in our view that the secular story of ride-hailing adoption is intact if and as we move through COVID,” noted Erickson.

What is Lyft’s quick ratio?

As of March, Lyft’s current assets totaled $3.144754 billion. Liabilities equaled $2551.14 billion. In the quick ratio formula,

3.144754/2551.14= 1.23

Lyft’s quick ratio of 1.23 is less than Uber’s 1.68. Uber has a greater ability to pay its short-term liabilities than Lyft.

Quick ratio comparison: Tesla vs. GM

Tesla was founded just a few years ago, but is already challenging the established automobile company General Motors (GM). I will examine which corporation has a higher quick ratio.

Tesla makes a profit despite COVID-19 challenges

Like all automobile corporations, Tesla’s( NASDAQ:TSLA) production ground to a halt after coronavirus caused a nationwide shutdown. Despite the shutdown, Tesla turned a profit in a better-than-expected Q1 2020 earnings report with revenue of $5.99 billion. CEO Elon Musk spoke about the results.

“So, Q1 ended up being a strong quarter despite many challenges in the final few weeks. This is the first time we have achieved positive GAAP( generally accepted accounting principles) net income in a seasonally weak first quarter,” said Musk.

Musk also spoke about how Tesla has $8 million available in cash despite a reduction in demand for Tesla during the economic slowdown.

Analysts divided on whether Tesla is a buy

Tesla’s positive Q1 2020 earnings report makes Tesla a buy to Wedbush’s Dan Ives. He wrote in a note to clients that he believes Tesla stock can continue to perform well now that the company’s factories are re-opened.

“Tesla appears to be turning the corner from both a demand and production perspective heading into the month of June,” wrote Ives.

Ives also believes that the international demand for Tesla’s Model 3 will help the company’s stock.

“While second-quarter delivery numbers remain in flux due to a host of logistical issues as well as overall lockdown conditions now starting to ease across the U.S. and Europe, it appears underlying demand for Model 3 in China is strong with a solid May and June likely in the cards and clear momentum heading into the second half,” added Ives.

While Ives is bullish on Tesla stock. Bank of America analysts are bearish on Tesla stock. The analysts believe that even though Tesla is re-opened, production restarts will still be difficult to implement.

Analysts also noted Tesla’s re-opening “will likely prove toughest with production restarts/ramps that continue to be pushed out, which may disproportionately hit (Tesla) by derailing its ongoing capacity/production expansion across its plants (Model Y in Fremont, Model 3 in Shanghai, Giga (Berlin)”.

What is Tesla’s quick ratio?

As of March, Tesla current assets excluding inventory are $14.893 billion. The company’s liabilities equal $ 11.986 billion. The quick ratio formula would be:

10.40/11.986=0.87.

Tesla’s quick ratio is 0.87.

GM touts liquidity despite economic slowdown

GM had a better-than-expected earnings report despite COVID-19 slowing down production. Chief financial officer Dhivya Suryadevara touted the corporation’s liquidity in its latest financial results.

“Our liquidity continues to be very strong at $33.4 billion at the end of first quarter. Even in an extreme scenario with zero production, our current levels of liquidity will take us into Q4 of 2020. In addition, the capital markets continue to be open as a way to access additional layers of liquidity to take us beyond that time frame,” said Suryadevara.

Deutsche Bank bullish on GM stock

Because of GM’s positive earnings report, Deutsche Bank upgraded its rating of GM stock to a buy in May.

“GM’s strong 1Q performance and forward-looking outlook, in our view demonstrate the benefit from its proactive actions to transform the business, right size its costs and boost profitability. They should leave GM best positioned to weather challenging 2Q conditions, and yield considerable improvement in profit and free cash flow in 2H and into 2021.”

GM’s stock rose 6% after the Q1 2020 earnings report. The company had its stock slide 40% throughout the year. However, GM is showing resilience as it re-opens its factories as the economy re-opens.

What is GM’s quick ratio?

As of March, GM’s current assets equaled $86.90 billion. GM’s liabilities totaled $91.29 billion. Therefore, the quick ratio formula is:

86.90/91.29=0.95.

GM’s quick ratio is 0.95.

GM’s 0.95 is greater than Tesla’s 0.87. GM has more liquidity and can more easily pay off short-term debt better than Tesla.

How can traders use quick ratio interpretations to pick stocks?

While a quick ratio of a company is just one way to measure a corporation’s success, it is a vital metric. A quick ratio interpretation can help investors choose the best stocks that can pay off short-term debt. TradingSim charts and blog posts can also help investors find the best stocks with the most liquidity to easily pay off debt and give investors better results.

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