Investing and Money Glossary, terms and definitions.

Working Capital

Current assets minus current liabilities. A firm's working capital is the money it has available to meet current obligations (those due in less than a year). A firm with a great deal of working capital is in little danger of failing in the near future, but enormous working capital over a prolonged period could also imply excessively conservative management. Working capital, after all, is short-term in nature and hasn't been put to work in the company's profit-making business operations. As with most measures of corporate well-being, this one varies by industry and even by season.