Trade Receivables
Amounts owed to a company by customers for goods or services already delivered but not yet paid for.
Formula
Debtor Days = Average Trade Receivables / Revenue x 365
Unit
₹ crore
In depth
Receivables are revenue that has been recognised but not collected, which makes them the single most informative line for detecting aggressive accounting. When receivables grow materially faster than revenue, either collection is deteriorating or sales are being recognised that will not convert to cash. Indian filings require an ageing schedule in the notes, and a growing bucket beyond six months is the specific thing to look for. Expected credit loss provisioning under Ind AS 109 requires companies to book anticipated defaults up front, so a low provision against old receivables is itself a red flag.
Worked example
Revenue ₹1,000 crore with average receivables of ₹220 crore gives debtor days = 220 / 1,000 x 365 = 80 days. If revenue grows 10% to ₹1,100 crore while receivables grow 60% to ₹352 crore, debtor days jump to 117 — the growth was sold on credit.
Illustrative figures, chosen so the arithmetic is easy to follow. Not a live price and not a valuation of any company.
Educational reference only
This entry explains what “Trade Receivables” means. It is not investment advice and not a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Any numbers above are illustrative, not live prices, and nothing here predicts price direction or rates a stock. Consider your own circumstances and consult a SEBI-registered investment adviser before acting.