Financial analysis definition — AccountingTools (2024)

What is Financial Analysis?

Financial analysis is the examination of financial information to reach business decisions. This analysis typically involves an examination of both historical and projected profitability, cash flows, and risk. It may result in the reallocation of resources to or from a business or a specific internal operation. This type of analysis applies particularly well to the situations noted below.

Investment Decisions by External Investors

In this situation, a financial analyst or investor reviews the financial statements and accompanying disclosures of a company to see if it is worthwhile to invest in or lend money to the entity. This typically involves ratio analysis to see if the organization is sufficiently liquid and generates a sufficient amount of cash flow. It may also involve combining the information in the financial statements for multiple periods to derive trend lines that can be used to extrapolate financial results into the future.

Investment Decisions by Internal Investors

In this situation, an internal analyst reviews the projected cash flows and other information related to a prospective investment (usually for a fixed asset). The intent is to see if the expected cash outflows from the project will generate a sufficient return on investment. This examination can also focus on whether to rent, lease, or purchase an asset.

The Advantages of Financial Analysis

There are multiple advantages to the use of financial analysis. One is that ongoing analyses within a business will result in a more efficient allocation of capital. Some projects or products will prove to be less profitable, and so can be eliminated in favor of more profitable alternatives. The result should be a more fine-tuned organization that generates greater profits. A second advantage is that investors can gain a better understanding of which companies are more likely to generate a better return on investment. This results in a higher stock price for the selected companies. Third, financial analysis can be used to spot trends in revenues and expenses within a business that can be exploited with forward-looking investments. These investments may be able to generate greater returns than is currently possible with a firm’s existing investments.

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Financial analysis definition —  AccountingTools (2024)

FAQs

Financial analysis definition — AccountingTools? ›

Financial analysis is the examination of financial information to reach business decisions. This analysis typically involves an examination of both historical and projected profitability, cash flows, and risk. It may result in the reallocation of resources to or from a business or a specific internal operation.

How do you define financial analysis? ›

Financial analysis is the process of evaluating businesses, projects, budgets, and other finance-related transactions to determine their performance and suitability. Typically, financial analysis is used to analyze whether an entity is stable, solvent, liquid, or profitable enough to warrant a monetary investment.

What is financial statement analysis in simple words? ›

Financial statement analysis is used by internal and external stakeholders to evaluate business performance and value. Financial accounting calls for all companies to create a balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement, which form the basis for financial statement analysis.

What is the definition of financial statement analysis quizlet? ›

What is the definition of financial statement analysis? Examining both the relationships among financial statement numbers and the trends in those numbers over time.

What are the four examples of special purpose analytical tools commonly utilized by the financial analyst? ›

Some of the most used financial tools based on their usage and requirements are common size statements (vertical analysis), comparative financial statements (comparison of financial statements), ratio analysis (quantitative analysis), cash flow analysis, and trend analysis.

What is financial analysis best described as? ›

Financial analysis involves using financial data to assess a company's performance and make recommendations about how it can improve going forward.

What is the meaning of financial analytics? ›

Financial analytics is the field that provides high- and granular-level views of a company's financial data, helping to improve its business performance.

What is the best definition of financial statement? ›

Financial statements are a set of documents that show your company's financial status at a specific point in time. They include key data on what your company owns and owes and how much money it has made and spent. There are four main financial statements: balance sheet. income statement.

What is financial statement analysis Chegg? ›

Financial statement analysis is a crucial aspect of evaluating a company's financial health and performance. It involves examining a company's financial statements—comprising the balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement—to gain insights into its profitability, solvency, and liquidity.

Which type of financial statement analysis is also known as? ›

Vertical analysis also known as common-size analysis is a popular method of financial statement analysis that shows each item on a statement as a percentage of a base figure within the statement.

What are the 3 basic tools for financial statement analysis? ›

The three major tools for financial statement analyses are horizontal analysis, vertical analysis, and ratios analysis.

What are the most commonly used to for financial analysis? ›

Commonly used tools of financial analysis are: Comparative statements, Common size statements, trend analysis, ratio analysis, funds flow analysis, and cash flow analysis.

What is the difference between a financial analyst and an accountant? ›

Accountants primarily deal with analysing and recording financial transactions. Financial analysts focus more on managing money and making strategic investment decisions.

What are the three types of financial analysis? ›

The three tools of financial analysis are ratios analysis, vertical analysis, and horizontal analysis. What are the types of financial analysis models?

How do you discuss financial analysis? ›

How to do a financial analysis
  1. Collect your company's financial statements. Financial analysis helps you identify trends in your business's performance. ...
  2. Analyze balance sheets. ...
  3. Analyze income statements. ...
  4. Analyze cash flow statements. ...
  5. Calculate relevant financial ratios. ...
  6. Summarize your findings.
Jul 7, 2023

How do you write a simple financial analysis? ›

How to write a financial analysis report
  1. Give an overview of the company. The first section of your financial analysis report is the company overview. ...
  2. Write sales forecast and other vital sections. ...
  3. Determine the company's valuation. ...
  4. Perform risk analysis. ...
  5. Include summaries of financial statements. ...
  6. Summarize the entire report.
Feb 7, 2023

What is the focus of the financial analysis? ›

The primary objective of corporate financial analysis is to determine profitability, liquidity, and solvency. Through financial analysis, stakeholders can determine the financial health and future prospects of a business or investment.

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