5. Using regression analysis to forecast assets

The AFN equation and the financial statementforecasting approach both assume that assets grow at relatively the same rate as sales. However, the relationship between assets and sales is often a little more difficult than that. In particular, some firms use regression analysis to predict the required assets needed to support a given level of sales.

Axis Chemical Co. has used its historical sales and asset data to estimate the following regression equations:

Accounts Receivable	=	$98,770 + 0.249(Sales)
Inventories	=	$8,765 + 0.192(Sales)

Axis Chemical Co. currently has sales of $900,000, but it expects sales to grow by 25% over the next year. Use the regression models to calculate Axis Chemical Co.s forecasted values for accounts receivable and inventories needed to support next years sales.

Forecasted Values for Next Year
Accounts receivable	181,355; 172,287; 163,220; or 208,558
Inventories	179,812; 236,003; 224,765; or 191,050

Based on the next years accounts receivable and inventory levels predicted by Axis Chemical Co.s regression equations, the firms DSO for next year is expected to be (52.96; 44.13; 58.84; or 41.19) . Use 365 days as the length of a year in all calculations.