Cultural Influences on Financial Decisions
The financial decisions made by an investor are actually influenced by several factors that are present in their thought process. We have discussed about the rational aspects of traditional financial theory. We have also discussed about emotional aspects and behavioral biases in the previous articles. However, emotions are not the only thing that impact behavior. […]
Currency Wars: “Beggar Thy Neighbor” Policy
What is a Currency War ? A currency war is a situation wherein devaluation of currency by one country is retaliated by a competitive devaluation from the other country. For instance if the United States were to devalue the dollar against the Pound Sterling and if the British retaliated with their own devaluation then the […]
Current Ratio – Formula, Meaning, Assumptions and Interpretations
The current ratio is the most popularly used metric to gauge the short term solvency of a company. This article provides the details about this ratio. Formula Current Ratio = Current Assets / Current Liabilities Meaning Current ratio measures the current assets of the company in comparison to its current liabilities. This means that the […]
Customer Footfall Analysis
The retail sector has started using data and analytics in a big way. In general, data and analytics is used extensively by online players in the retail sector. This means that companies like Amazon and eBay have traditionally been collecting data extensively from their customers and have also been using this data to make business […]
What is Cost Modelling?
In the previous article, we have discussed how important revenue modeling is and the techniques which are used by companies to ensure that their revenue models are accurate and up to date. Once the revenue modeling is complete, the next step in the process refers to the modeling of expenses. This process is challenging because […]
Common size statements are not financial ratios. Rather they are a way of presenting financial statements that makes them more suitable for analysis. However, analysts always use them in conjunction with ratio analysis.
In fact, financial analysts use common size statements as the starting point to help them dig deeper. Common size statements tell them what particular group of ratios deserves more attention for any given set of financial statements.
Common size statements are financial statements expressed in percentage form. Therefore a common size income statement would consider the sales figure as 100%. Every expense in the income statement will then be expressed as a percentage of the sales figure. Similarly in common size balance sheet the total assets figure is considered to be 100%. Everything else is expressed as a percentage of the same.
The logic behind creating common size financial statements is that they are easily comparable. Analysts can compare the COGS across two companies and state which one has lower COGS without any calculation! Thus, using the common size statements the analysts look step by step at the financial statements and compare them with other companies. This helps them understand how the company has a different asset structure and cost structure in comparison to its competitors and whether it is favorable or unfavorable for the organization.
Trend analysis is analysis which entails comparison with the company’s own past performance. The problem in conducting this analysis is that all the numbers keep changing and there is no fixed base.
With the help of common size statements, the base gets fixed at 100% and all the numbers can be compared across years. Thus with the help of this trend analysis, a company can figure out whether its advertising costs have gone up compared to last year and if so why?
Sample of a typical common size income statement:
| Particulars | Percentage |
| Sales | 100% |
| Less: COGS | 38% |
| Gross Profit | 62% |
| Less: SG&A | 14% |
| EBIDTA | 48% |
| Less: Depreciation | 10% |
| EBIT | 38% |
| Less Interest | 6% |
| PBT | 32% |
| Less: Taxes | 11% |
| PAT | 21% |
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Cultural Influences on Financial Decisions
February 12, 2025
Currency Wars: “Beggar Thy Neighbor” Policy
February 12, 2025
Current Ratio – Formula, Meaning, Assumptions and Interpretations
February 12, 2025
