Comparative statements are financial reports that compare a given financial statement with either a prior time period or another company. Comparative statements add two critical dimensions to the ...

One of the most effective ways to compare two businesses is to perform a ratio analysis on each company's financial statements. A ratio analysis looks at various numbers in the financial statements ...

Andrew Bloomenthal has 20+ years of editorial experience as a financial journalist and as a financial services marketing writer. David Kindness is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and an expert in ...

Financial analysis is an aspect of the overall business finance function that involves examining historical data to gain information about the current and future financial health of a company.

There isn't just one best method for evaluating business performance. Every business may differ slightly in operation, environment and methodology, which leaves many ...

Jason Morris has 9+ years of experience as a financial professional. He is currently a controller for Nucorp, the largest steel producer in the U.S. Suzanne is a content marketer, writer, and ...

Q. I often perform horizontal, vertical, and trend analysis for clients. Each time revised financial statements arrive, I find myself recreating formulas, rechecking ranges, and confirming that ...

Successful business management involves many moving pieces—not only leading a team but also accomplishing short- and long-term business goals aligned with a mission and vision. Within that bigger ...

Common size analysis can help you see how your company is performing year over year so you can identify trends. Common size analysis displays each line item of your financial statement as a percentage ...

Q. I read the JofA article last month about performing horizontal, vertical, and trend analyses in Excel. How can Excel be used to organize these analyses and highlight possible red flags in a company ...