Interpretation and Context Financial ratios can be interpreted only in the context of other information. In general, the financial ratios of a company are compared with those of its major competitors (cross-sectional and trend analysis) and to the company’s prior periods (trend analysis). The goal is to understand the underlying causes of divergence between a…
Graphs facilitate comparison of performance and financial structure over time, highlighting changes in significant aspects of business operations. In addition, graphs provide the analyst (and management) with a visual overview of risk trends in a business. Graphs may also be used effectively to communicate the analyst’s conclusions regarding financial condition and risk management aspects. Regression…
Cross-sectional analysis (sometimes called “relative analysis”) compares a specific metric for one company with the same metric for another company or group of companies measured at the same point in time or over the same range of time, allowing comparisons even though the companies might be of significantly different sizes or operate in different currencies.…
Common-size analysis involves expressing financial data, including entire financial statements, in relation to a single financial statement item, or base. Common-Size Analysis of the Balance Sheet A vertical common-size balance sheet, prepared by dividing each item on the balance sheet by the same period’s total assets and expressing the results as percentages, highlights the composition…
Several aspects of ratio analysis are important to understand. First, the computed ratio is not “the answer.” The ratio is an indicatorof some aspect of a company’s performance, telling what happened but not why it happened. Net profit margin is calculated by dividing net income by revenue: A second important aspect of ratio analysis is that…
The analyst may also want to examine comparable performance over time. Again, the nominal currency amounts of sales or net income may not highlight significant changes. To address this challenge, horizontal financial statements (whereby quantities are stated in terms of a selected base year value) can make such changes more apparent. Another obstacle to comparison…
The Objectives of the Financial Analysis Process Distinguish between Computations and Analysis Analysts often need to communicate the findings of their analysis in a written report. Their reports should communicate how conclusions were reached and why recommendations were made. For example, a report might present the following: An effective narrative and well supported conclusions and…
The cash flow statement consists of three sections:
