Z = 1.2(Working Capital/Total Assets) + 1.4(Retained Earnings/Total Assets) + 3.3(EBIT/Total Assets) + 0.6(Market Value of Equity/Total Liabilities) + 1.0(Sales/Total Assets)
The Altman Z-Score flags bankruptcy risk: below 1.8 is distress, above 3 is safe.
What it is
The Altman Z-Score is a bankruptcy-prediction model developed by Professor Edward Altman in 1968. It combines five financial ratios, covering profitability, leverage, liquidity, solvency, and asset turnover, into a single weighted score. A higher score means lower distress risk, and a low score signals elevated bankruptcy risk.
Why it matters
It distills several aspects of financial health into one number, giving a fast read on distress risk that is hard to get from any single ratio. For the original manufacturing model, a score above 3 is considered safe, between 1.8 and 3 is a grey zone, and below 1.8 signals high distress risk. A key limitation is that the classic formula was built for public manufacturers, so adapted versions are needed for service firms, financials, and emerging markets.
How it's calculated
It sums five weighted ratios: 1.2 times working capital/total assets, 1.4 times retained earnings/total assets, 3.3 times EBIT/total assets, 0.6 times market value of equity/total liabilities, and 1.0 times sales/total assets.
How Quintarthai uses it
Quinn computes an Altman-Z style distress signal as part of its risk-first QuinnScore and bankruptcy/delisting flags on a company's deep-analysis page, with each input figure carrying a click-to-source provenance receipt.
Cross-border note. The model uses retained earnings and total liabilities, which can differ in presentation under IFRS (common for Canadian filers) versus US GAAP, so the same company can score slightly differently depending on the accounting basis.
FAQ
What Z-Score signals bankruptcy risk?
For the original manufacturing model, a score below 1.8 indicates high distress risk, 1.8 to 3 is a grey zone, and above 3 is considered safe. These cut-offs differ for the private-company and non-manufacturer variants.
Does the Altman Z-Score work for all companies?
No. The classic version was built for public manufacturers and is not reliable for banks, insurers, or many service firms. Altman later published modified models (Z' and Z'') for private and non-manufacturing companies.
Check your understanding
A service company gets a very low Altman Z-Score. Why should you be cautious about concluding it is near bankruptcy?
The original Altman model was calibrated for public manufacturers and is not reliable for banks, insurers, or service firms, so adapted variants are needed for those cases.