Liquid Asset

Cash on hand or an asset other than cash that can be quickly converted into cash at a reasonable price

Written by CFI Team

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What is a Liquid Asset?

A liquid asset is cash on hand or an asset other than cash that can be quickly converted into cash at a reasonable price. In other words, a liquid asset can be quickly sold on the market without a significant loss of its value.

Liquid Asset

Generally, liquid assets are traded on well-established markets with a large number of buyers and sellers. The high number of market participants, along with large trading volumes, ensure the fast disposal of the assets without significantly losing value.

Examples of Liquid Assets

Cash
Cash equivalents (checking account, savings account, money market account)
Marketable securities (stocks, government bonds)

Balance Sheet Treatment

Similar to other assets, liquid assets are reported on the balance sheet of a company. Assets are listed on the balance sheet in order of liquidity, with the most liquid types listed at the top of the balance sheet and the least liquid listed at the bottom.

Although there is no direct measure of the liquidity of each asset, businesses and market analysts use various financial ratios, such as the quick ratio and cash ratio, to identify the overall level of liquidity of a company.

Importance of Liquid Assets

Liquidity is one of the key factors that determine success in the world of business. Liquid assets ensure a company’s ability to meet its immediate financial obligations and operating expenses. In addition, the assets serve as the company’s protection from unforeseen adverse events, such as a recession or a sudden decline in demand for the company’s products or services. Finally, their presence directly improves the company’s ability to seek additional financing.

Liquid assets are important in personal finance as well. Generally, it is not recommended to exclude such assets from a personal investment portfolio. Similar to business applications, liquid assets in personal finance are utilized to meet financial obligations as soon as possible. In addition, they are also used to protect a personal investment position against unanticipated adverse events.

Additional Resources

CFI offers the Financial Modeling & Valuation Analyst (FMVA)® certification program for those looking to take their careers to the next level. To keep learning and advancing your career, the following CFI resources will be helpful: