Techniques of Financial Statement Analysis

Financial statement analysis is interpreted mainly to determine the financial and operational performance of the business concern. A number of methods or techniques are used to analyse the financial statement of the business concern. The following are the common methods or techniques, which are widely used by the business concern.

Comparative Statement Analysis

Comparative statement analysis is an analysis of financial statement at different period of time. This statement helps to understand the comparative position of financial and operational performance at different period of time.

Comparative financial statements again classified into two major parts such as comparative balance sheet analysis and comparative profit and loss account analysis.

Comparative Balance Sheet Analysis

Comparative balance sheet analysis concentrates only the balance sheet of the concern at different period of time. Under this analysis the balance sheets are compared with previous year’s figures or one-year balance sheet figures are compared with other years. Comparative balance sheet analysis may be horizontal or vertical basis. This type of analysis helps to understand the real financial position of the concern as well as how the assets, liabilities and capitals are placed during a particular period.

Comparative Profit and Loss Account Analysis

Another comparative financial statement analysis is comparative profit and loss account analysis. Under this analysis, only profit and loss account is taken to compare with previous year’s figure or compare within the statement. This analysis helps to understand the operational performance of the business concern in a given period. It may be analyzed on horizontal basis or vertical basis.

Trend Analysis

The financial statements may be analysed by computing trends of series of information. It may be upward or downward directions which involve the percentage relationship of each and every item of the statement with the common value of 100%. Trend analysis helps to understand the trend relationship with various items, which appear in the financial statements. These percentages may also be taken as index number showing relative changes in the financial information resulting with the various period of time. In this analysis, only major items are considered for calculating the trend percentage.

Common Size Analysis

Another important financial statement analysis techniques are common size analysis in which figures reported are converted into percentage to some common base. In the balance sheet the total assets figures is assumed to be 100 and all figures are expressed as a percentage of this total. It is one of the simplest methods of financial statement analysis, which reflects the relationship of each and every item with the base value of 100%.

Funds flow statement

Funds flow statement is one of the important tools, which is used in many ways. It helps to understand the changes in the financial position of a business enterprise between the beginning and ending financial statement dates. It is also called as statement of sources and uses of funds.

Institute of Cost and Works Accounts of India, funds flow statement is defined as “a statement prospective or retrospective, setting out the sources and application of the funds of an enterprise. The purpose of the statement is to indicate clearly the requirement of funds and how they are proposed to be raised and the efficient utilization and application of the same”.

Cash flow statement

Cash flow statement is a statement which shows the sources of cash inflow and uses of cash out-flow of the business concern during a particular period of time. It is the statement, which involves only short-term financial position of the business concern. Cash flow statement provides a summary of operating, investment and financing cash flows and reconciles them with changes in its cash and cash equivalents such as marketable securities. Institute of Chartered Accountants of India issued the Accounting Standard (AS-3) related to the preparation of cash flow statement in 1998.

Ratio analysis

Ratio analysis is a commonly used tool of financial statement analysis. Ratio is a mathematical relationship between one number to another number. Ratio is used as an index for evaluating the financial performance of the business concern. An accounting ratio shows the mathematical relationship between two figures, which have meaningful relation with each other. Ratio can be classified into various types. Read more Ratio Analysis