Periodic and perpetual inventory systems are two contrasting accounting methods that businesses use to track the quantity of products they have available.

A perpetual inventory system is a computerized system that keeps track of the quantity of inventory on hand and updates the records as goods are purchased or sold. Learn how it works.

We describe how to calculate the inventory item on the balance sheet using FIFO, LIFO, and average cost methods, and consider the results of each.

The days sales of inventory (DSI) gives investors an idea of how long it takes a company to turn its inventory into sales.

Inventory management is the process of ordering, storing and using a company's inventory: raw materials, components, and finished products. Learn about the different types of inventory management and pros and cons of each.

Beginning inventory is the book value of a company’s inventory at the start of an accounting period. It is also the value of inventory carried over from the end of the preceding accounting period.

Inventory turnover is a financial ratio that measures a company’s efficiency in managing its stock of goods.

The periodic inventory system is a method of inventory valuation in which a physical count of inventory is performed at specific intervals.

An inventory write-off is an accounting term for the formal recognition of a portion of a company's inventory that no longer has value.

Financial professionals use a wide variety of quantitative and qualitative techniques to understand inventory in their investing analyses.