what is financial statement analysis
The process of extracting information from financial statements to better understand a company’s current and future performance and financial conditions
who are the different people that have objectives for using financial statements
what does management use financial statements for
to raise financing for the company, meet disclosure requirements, and as a benchmark for executive bonuses
what does investors and analysts use financial statements for
to help decide to buy or sell a stock or not
what does creditors and rating agencies use financial statements for
to determine the creditworthiness of a company’s debt and lending terms
what does regulatory agencies use financial statements for
to encourage the enactment of social and economic policies, and to monitor compliance with the laws
what does legal institutions use financial statements for
to assess fines and reparations in litigation
what do other decision makers use financial statements for
for things like determining demands in labour union negotiations and assessing damages for environmental abuses
who are the users that demand financial accounting information
who and how are financial information supplied
what are the required reports that public companies in the US must file
what is the form 10-k
what is the form 10-Q
what are other useful information beyond financial statements
what are financial statement footnotes
Explanation of the numbers in the financial statements
what is an MD&A
What management think about the numbers in the financial statements
what is an independent auditor report
Whether the auditor thinks the statements follows the standards
what is a proxy statement (DEF 14A)
what is a form 8K
what is a prospectus S1
what are the benefits of disclosure
how is access to capital a benefit of disclosure
how is good reputation a benefit of disclosure
how is valuation and analysis a benefit of disclosure