Extended Altman Z-Score Model

The Extended Altman Z-Score Model represents a significant advancement in financial analysis and risk assessment, building upon the foundational work of Altman (1968) while incorporating contemporary data analytics approaches as proposed by Fung (2023). This sophisticated model enhances the traditional bankruptcy prediction framework by integrating additional financial metrics and modern analytical techniques, offering a more comprehensive approach to identifying financially distressed companies.

The model's architecture is built upon two distinct yet complementary scoring systems. The traditional Altman Z-Score components form the foundation, including Working Capital to Total Assets (X1), which measures a company's short-term liquidity and operational efficiency. Retained Earnings to Total Assets (X2) provides insight into the company's historical profitability and reinvestment capacity. EBIT to Total Assets (X3) evaluates operational efficiency and earning power, while Market Value of Equity to Total Liabilities (X4) assesses market perception and leverage. Sales to Total Assets (X5) measures asset utilization efficiency.

These traditional components are enhanced by extended metrics introduced by Fung (2023), which provide additional layers of financial analysis. The Cash Ratio (X6) offers insights into immediate liquidity and financial flexibility. Asset Composition (X7) evaluates the quality and efficiency of asset utilization, particularly in working capital management. The Debt Ratio (X8) provides a comprehensive view of financial leverage and long-term solvency, while the Net Profit Margin (X9) measures overall profitability and operational efficiency.

The scoring system employs a sophisticated formula that combines the traditional Z-Score with weighted additional metrics. The traditional Z-Score is calculated as 1.2X1 + 1.4X2 + 3.3X3 + 0.6X4 + 1.0X5, while the extended components are weighted as follows: 0.5 * X6 + 0.3 * X7 - 0.4 * X8 + 0.6 * X9. This enhanced scoring mechanism provides a more nuanced assessment of a company's financial health, incorporating both traditional bankruptcy prediction metrics and modern financial analysis approaches.

The model categorizes companies into three distinct risk zones, each with specific implications for financial stability and required actions. The Safe Zone (Score > 3.0) indicates strong financial health, with low probability of financial distress and suitability for conservative investment strategies. The Grey Zone (Score between 1.8 and 3.0) suggests moderate risk, requiring careful monitoring and additional fundamental analysis. The Danger Zone (Score < 1.8) signals high risk of financial distress, necessitating immediate attention and potential risk mitigation strategies.

In practical application, the model requires systematic and regular monitoring. Users should track the Extended Score on a quarterly basis, monitoring changes in individual components and comparing results with industry benchmarks. Component analysis should be conducted separately, identifying specific areas of concern and tracking trends in individual metrics. The model's effectiveness is significantly enhanced when used in conjunction with other financial metrics and when considering industry-specific factors and macroeconomic conditions.

The technical implementation in Pine Script v6 provides real-time calculations of both traditional and extended scores, offering visual representation of risk zones, detailed component breakdowns, and warning signals for critical values. The indicator automatically updates with new financial data and provides clear visual cues for different risk levels, making it accessible to both technical and fundamental analysts.

However, as noted by Fung (2023), the model has certain limitations that users should consider. It may not fully account for industry-specific factors, requires regular updates of financial data, and should be used in conjunction with other analysis tools. The model's effectiveness can be enhanced by incorporating industry-specific benchmarks and considering macroeconomic factors that may affect financial performance.

References:

Altman, E.I. (1968) 'Financial ratios, discriminant analysis and the prediction of corporate bankruptcy', The Journal of Finance, 23(4), pp. 589-609.

Li, L., Wang, B., Wu, Y. and Yang, Q., 2020. Identifying poorly performing listed firms using data analytics. Journal of Business Research, 109, pp.1–12. doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.10.003