Which measure specifically excludes inventory from its calculation?

The measure that specifically excludes inventory from its calculation is the quick ratio. The quick ratio, also known as the acid-test ratio, is designed to provide a more stringent assessment of a company’s short-term liquidity. It does this by including only the most liquid assets—cash, cash equivalents, and accounts receivable—while deliberately omitting inventory from the calculation. This exclusion is important because inventory may not be as readily convertible to cash in the short term as other assets, making the quick ratio a more conservative measure of a company's ability to meet its short-term obligations.

In contrast, the current ratio includes all current assets, including inventory, which can inflate the liquidity picture since inventory may take time to sell and convert into cash. The cash ratio focuses solely on cash and cash equivalents, giving an immediate sense of liquidity but not considering accounts receivable, while the debt-to-equity ratio assesses a company's financial leverage and does not measure liquidity at all. Therefore, the quick ratio's focus on the most liquid assets, excluding inventory, makes it the correct choice.