Current Ratio

The current ratio measures a company's ability to pay short-term debts and other current liabilities (financial obligations lasting less than one year) by comparing current assets to current liabilities. The ratio illustrates a company's ability to remain solvent.

A current ratio of one means that book value of current assets is exactly the same as book value of current liabilities. In general, investors look for a company with a current ratio of 2:1, meaning current assets twice as large as current liabilities. A current ratio less than one indicates the company might have problems meeting short-term financial obligations. If the ratio is too high, the company may not be efficiently using its current assets or short term financing facilities.

Other similar solvency ratios include :
Cash Ratio - Measures the amount of cash that can be used to pay liabilities (most strict)
Quick Ratio - Measures the amount of cash, short term equivalents, and accounts receivables that can be used to pay liabilities (more lenient than cash ratio, but stricter than current ratio)

Formula

Current Ratio = Current Assets / Current Liabilities