Days Inventory Outstanding (DIO)

Welcome to the Value Sense Blog, your resource for insights on the stock market! At Value Sense, we focus on intrinsic value tools and offer stock ideas with undervalued companies. Dive into our research products and learn more about our unique approach at valuesense.io.

Explore diverse stock ideas covering technology, healthcare, and commodities sectors. Our insights are crafted to help investors spot opportunities in undervalued growth stocks, enhancing potential returns. Visit us to see evaluations and in-depth market research.

What is Days Inventory Outstanding (DIO)?

Days Inventory Outstanding (DIO) indicates the average number of days a company holds inventory before selling it, showing inventory management efficiency.

How do you interpret Days Inventory Outstanding (DIO)?

Days Inventory Outstanding (DIO) shows the average number of days a company holds inventory before selling it, reflecting inventory management efficiency.

How to Calculate Days Inventory Outstanding (DIO)?

DIO is calculated by dividing the ending inventory by the cost of goods sold (COGS) per day.

Days Inventory Outstanding = (Average Inventory / COGS) * 365

where

• Average Inventory: The average value of inventory over a period.
• COGS: Cost of goods sold during the same period.

Why is Days Inventory Outstanding (DIO) important?

DIO is crucial for understanding how long a company's capital is tied up in inventory. It provides insight into how well a company manages its inventory and affects cash flow, profitability, and operational efficiency.

How does Days Inventory Outstanding (DIO) benefit investors?

Investors use DIO to assess how efficiently a company is managing its inventory. A lower DIO typically suggests better management and higher liquidity, which can lead to improved profitability and reduced financial risk.

Using Days Inventory Outstanding (DIO) to Evaluate Stock Performance

Companies with a lower DIO generally operate more efficiently and are better at converting inventory into sales, which can contribute to stronger cash flow and, ultimately, stock performance.

FAQ about Days Inventory Outstanding (DIO)

What is a Good Days Inventory Outstanding (DIO)?

The ideal DIO varies by industry. In general, a lower DIO is preferred because it indicates efficient inventory management. However, a very low DIO could suggest that the company is not holding enough inventory, potentially leading to stockouts.

What Is the Difference Between Metric 1 and Metric 2?

DIO measures the average number of days inventory is held before it is sold, while inventory turnover calculates how many times inventory is sold during a period. They are closely related but offer different perspectives on inventory efficiency.

Is it bad to have a negative Days Inventory Outstanding (DIO)?

A high DIO can be problematic as it indicates that a company is holding onto inventory longer, which may tie up cash and lead to increased holding costs. However, this could also be normal for companies with slow-moving goods or seasonal inventory.

What Causes Days Inventory Outstanding (DIO) to Increase?

DIO increases if the company’s inventory levels rise faster than sales or if there is a slowdown in sales, which may result in excess inventory.

What are the Limitations of Days Inventory Outstanding (DIO)?

DIO does not differentiate between different types of inventory, such as finished goods and raw materials. It also does not account for the quality of the inventory or potential obsolescence, which could affect its usefulness as a metric.

When should I not use Days Inventory Outstanding (DIO)?

DIO may not be very relevant in industries where inventory turnover is extremely fast or in service-based industries that do not maintain significant inventory.

How does Days Inventory Outstanding (DIO) compare across industries?

Different industries have different benchmarks for DIO. For example, retail businesses typically have lower DIO compared to manufacturing companies, which may require more time to convert raw materials into finished products.

Explore More Investment Opportunities

For investors seeking undervalued companies with high fundamental quality, our analytics team provides curated stock lists:

📌 50 Undervalued Stocks (Best overall value plays for 2025)
📌 50 Undervalued Dividend Stocks (For income-focused investors)
📌 50 Undervalued Growth Stocks (High-growth potential with strong fundamentals)

🔍 Check out these stocks on the Value Sense platform for free!