Tools of financial statement analysis

Tools of financial statement analysis

Different tools are used for analysing the financial statements. The tool is selected based on the purpose of analysis. Following are the commonly used tools of financial statement analysis:

(i) Comparative statement

A statement giving comparison of net increase or decrease in the individual items of financial statements of two or more years of a business concern is called comparative statement. It shows the actual figures at different periods of time, the increase or decrease in these figures in absolute terms and the percentages of such increase or decrease. The two basic comparative statements prepared are comparative income statement and comparative balance sheet.

(ii) Common-size statements

The common–size statements show the relationship of various items with some common base, expressed as percentage of the common base. The common bases are total of assets or total of equity and liabilities or revenue from operations (net sales). The common size statements include common-size income statement and common-size balance sheet.

In the common–size income statement, revenue from operations is taken as 100 and various expenses and incomes are expressed as a percentage to the revenue from operations. In the common-size balance sheet, the total of balance sheet, that is, the total of assets or total of equity and liabilities is taken as 100 and various assets and liabilities are expressed as a percentage of the total of assets or total of equity and liabilities.

The common-size statements can be compared with those of previous years. They can also be compared with those of other similar businesses with similar accounting policies.

(iii) Trend analysis

Trend refers to the tendency of movement. Trend analysis refers to the study of movement of figures over a period. The trend may be increasing trend or decreasing trend or irregular. When data for more than two years are to be analysed, it may be difficult to use comparative statement. For this purpose, trend analysis may be used. One year, generally, the first year is taken as the base year. The figures of the base year are taken as 100. The figures for the other years are expressed as a percentage to the base year and the trend is determined.

(iv) Funds flow analysis

The term ‘fund’ refers to working capital. Working capital refers to the excess of current assets over current liabilities. The term ‘flow’ means movement and includes both ‘inflow’ and ‘outflow’. Funds flow analysis is concerned with preparation of funds flow statement which shows the inflow (sources) and outflow (applications) of funds in a given period of time. Funds flow analysis is useful in judging the credit worthiness, financial planning and preparation of budgets.

(v) Cash flow analysis

Cash flow analysis is concerned with preparation of cash flow statement which shows the inflow and outflow of cash and cash equivalents in a given period of time. Cash includes cash in hand and demand deposits with banks. Cash equivalents denote short term investments which can be realised easily within a short period of time, without much loss in value. Cash flow analysis helps in assessing the liquidity and solvency of a business concern.