F I N A N C I A L S T AT E M E N T
A N A LY S I S P R E V I E W
A variety of tools designed to fit specific needs are available to help users analyze
financial statements. In this section, we introduce some basic tools of financial analysis
and apply them to Colgate’s annual report. Specifically, we apply comparative financial
statement analysis, common-size financial statement analysis, and ratio analysis. Wealso briefly describe cash flow analysis. This preview to financial analysis is mainly limited
to some common analysis tools, especially as pertaining to ratio analysis. Later
chapters describe more advanced, state-of-the-art techniques, including accounting
analysis, that considerably enhance financial statement analysis. This section concludes
with an introduction to valuation models.
Analysis Tools
This section gives preliminary exposure to five important sets of tools for financial
analysis:
1. Comparative financial statement analysis
2. Common-size financial statement analysis
3. Ratio analysis
4. Cash flow analysis
5. Valuation
Comparative Financial Statement Analysis
Individuals conduct comparative financial statement analysis by reviewing consecutive
balance sheets, income statements, or statements of cash flows from period to period.
This usually involves a review of changes in individual account balances on a year-to-year
or multiyear basis. The most important information often revealed from comparative financial
statement analysis is trend. A comparison of statements over several periods can
reveal the direction, speed, and extent of a trend. Comparative analysis also compares
trends in related items. For example, a year-to-year 10% sales increase accompanied by a
20% increase in freight-out costs requires investigation and explanation. Similarly, a 15%
increase in accounts receivable along with a sales increase of only 5% calls for investigation.
In both cases we look for reasons behind differences in these interrelated rates and
any implications for our analysis. Comparative financial statement analysis also is referred
to as horizontal analysis given the left-right (or right-left) analysis of account balances as
we review comparative statements. Two techniques of comparative analysis are especially
popular: year-to-year change analysis and index-number trend analysis.
Year-to-Year Change Analysis. Comparing financial statements over relatively short
time periods—two to three years—is usually performed with analysis of year-to-year
changes in individual accounts. A year-to-year change analysis for short time periods is
manageable and understandable. It has the advantage of presenting changes in absolute
dollar amounts as well as in percentages. Change analyses in both amounts and percentages
are relevant since different dollar bases in computing percentage changes can yield
large changes inconsistent with their actual importance. For example, a 50% change from
a base amount of $1,000 is usually less significant than the same percentage change from
a base of $100,000. Reference to dollar amounts is necessary to retain a proper perspective
and to make valid inferences on the relative importance of changes.
Computation of year-to-year changes is straightforward. Still, a few rules should be
noted. When a negative amount appears in the base and a positive amount in the next
period (or vice versa), we cannot compute a meaningful percentage change. Also, when
there is no amount for the base period, no percentage change is computable. Similarly,
when the base period amount is small, a percentage change can be computed but the
number must be interpreted with caution. This is because it can signal a large change
merely because of the small base amount used in computing the change. Also, when an