ISA 520 · ISA 570 · Construction

Financial Ratio Calculator
for Construction

Pre-configured for construction entities. Accounts for percentage-of-completion revenue, WIP-adjusted working capital, contract modification complexity, and subcontractor dynamics.

ISA 520 · ISA 570v2026.04Manufacturing

30+ ratios, benchmarked.
Not just calculated.

Session
0xEEEF
Fiscal Year
FY 2026
Benchmark
BACH 2023
inputs.conf
methodology.conf
README.md
01// engagement— ISA 520.4
02entity_name=
03fiscal_year_end=
04currency=
05industry=
09// income_statement— current year
10revenue=
11cogs=
12ebit=
13net_income=
17// balance_sheet— period end
18total_assets=
19current_assets=
20current_liabilities=
21total_liabilities=
22total_equity=
awaiting input·3 sections · 2/13 fields · 0 errors·ISA 520 compliantEUR·Manufacturing
01liquidity
current_ratio
quick_ratio
cash_ratio
working_capital
02profitability
gross_margin
net_margin
roe
roa
ebitda_margin
roic
03leverage
debt_to_equity
debt_to_assets
interest_coverage
dscr
equity_multiplier
04activity
inventory_days
dso
dpo
asset_turnover
cash_conversion_cycle
05going_concern
altman_z_score
beneish_m_score
piotroski_f_score
isa_570_flags0
benchmark_source
Manufacturing
BACH database · 2023
Bank for the Accounts of Companies Harmonized. European industry medians (Q1 / median / Q3) from the ECB/ECCBSO aggregated database covering 12 European countries by NACE sector.
≥ median between q1 and median < q1
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ADVANCED ANALYSIS

Deeper ratio analysis, styled the same.

01// sensitivity— revenue stress ±25%
Enter revenue and COGS to run sensitivity.
02// dupont_decomposition— 3-factor ROE breakdown
Enter revenue, net income, and balance sheet to compute DuPont.
03// cross_ratio_intelligence— pattern detection warnings
Enter inputs to run pattern detection.
04// covenant_headroom— typical mid-market covenants
Enter EBIT, debt, and current assets/liabilities to test covenants.
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4 advanced sections · sensitivity · DuPont · cross-ratio · covenants
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Financial ratio analysis for Construction

Construction company financial ratio analysis is complicated by percentage-of-completion revenue recognition under IFRS 15, which means that both revenue and profit are estimated throughout the contract lifecycle rather than observed at completion. This creates unique challenges for ISA 520 analytical procedures: a construction company's reported gross margin depends heavily on management's estimate of total contract costs, stage of completion, and expected profit. Shifts in margin estimates can produce large adjustments in any given period.

The cash conversion cycle for construction companies is typically longer than other sectors (BACH median DSO: 70 days, DPO: 55 days) due to progress billing cycles and retention receivables. Contract assets (amounts due from customers for work completed but not yet billed) represent a significant balance that doesn't appear in traditional AR. For meaningful ratio analysis, combine contract assets with trade receivables when calculating turnover ratios. Retention receivables (typically 5–10% of contract value, held for 6–24 months) should be assessed separately for recoverability.

Construction companies often operate through joint ventures and consortium arrangements (IFRS 11), which can significantly affect consolidated ratios. A contractor's proportionate share of joint venture revenue and assets may not appear in the primary statements if equity-accounted. Similarly, back-to-back subcontractor arrangements create off-balance-sheet exposure that traditional ratios miss. BACH construction benchmarks (median gross margin: 20%, median D/E: 1.50) reflect the thin-margin, capital-efficient business model typical of European contractors.

Regulatory context

IFRS 15 over-time revenue recognition. Contract modifications and claims. IFRS 11 joint arrangement classification. Performance bonds and guarantees. Retention receivable recoverability.

Industry-specific going concern indicators (ISA 570)

Loss-making contracts in the current backlog

Order backlog declining below 12 months of revenue

Increasing claims and disputes on completed contracts

Key subcontractor insolvency or payment delays

Bond or guarantee facility expiring without renewal

Negative operating cash flow despite accounting profit

Worked Example: European Construction Company

BauWerk Bau GmbH — mid-size commercial construction with €52M revenue

Key results: Current Ratio: 1.22, Quick Ratio: 0.81, Gross Margin: 18.0%, Net Margin: 3.5%, ROE: 14.0%, D/E: 1.69, Interest Coverage: 4.5x, DSO: 63 days (includes contract assets), Inventory Days: 64 (WIP-heavy), CCC: 73 days

Frequently asked questions: Construction

How does percentage-of-completion affect ratio analysis?
Under IFRS 15, construction companies recognise revenue over time based on progress toward completion. This means revenue and margin in any period depend on management's estimate of total contract costs and completion stage. For ISA 520 analytical procedures, compare estimated and actual margins by contract cohort. A pattern of significant margin adjustments in later stages suggests estimating bias. The gross margin ratio should be analysed at the contract level, not just in aggregate.
Should contract assets be included in receivables ratios?
Yes. Contract assets (amounts recognised as revenue but not yet billed) represent work completed and should be combined with trade receivables for meaningful DSO calculation. Similarly, contract liabilities (advance payments) should be considered alongside trade payables for DPO. Without this adjustment, construction company turnover ratios will significantly understate the working capital cycle.
What is a good gross margin for construction?
European BACH data shows median construction gross margin of 20%, with Q1 at 12% and Q3 at 30%. Higher margins typically indicate specialised subcontracting, design-build capabilities, or niche market positions. General contractors and civil engineering companies often operate at 10–18%. Margins consistently below 12% raise questions about pricing discipline and contract selection quality.
How do joint ventures affect construction ratio analysis?
IFRS 11 classifies joint arrangements as either joint operations (proportionate consolidation) or joint ventures (equity method). The classification dramatically affects ratios: proportionate consolidation includes the contractor's share of all assets, liabilities, and revenue, while equity method only shows a single-line investment and share of profit. When comparing construction companies, check whether their JV accounting policies are consistent.
What are construction-specific going concern indicators?
ISA 570 indicators for construction include: loss-making contracts in the backlog, declining order backlog below 12 months' revenue, increasing claims and disputes on completed contracts, subcontractor payment delays or insolvency of key subcontractors, bond or guarantee facility expiring without renewal, retention receivables becoming impaired, and negative cash flow from operations despite positive accounting profit (which may indicate aggressive revenue recognition).

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