01 Financial Reporting and Analysis Flashcards
Financial Analysis Framework
Steps (6)
- Context of the analysis
- Collected Data
- Process Data
- Analyze/Interpret
- Communicate Conclusions
- Follow Up
Financial Analysis Framework
Context of the analysis (3)
- Statement of the purpose or objective of the analysis
- List of specific questions to be answered
- Timetable and budget resources for completion
Financial Analysis Framework
Collected Data (6)
- Financial statements
- Other financial Data
- Questionnaires
- Industry and economic data
- Discussion with management and customers
- Company site visits
Financial Analysis Framework
Process data (4)
- Adjust financial statements
- Common-size statements
- Ratios and graphs
- Forecasts
Financial Analysis Framework
Analyze/Interpret (3)
- Historic development
- Comparison with competitors
- Derive buy, hold or sell decision
The answer is seldom a numerical answer alone
Financial Analysis Framework
Communicate Conclusion
Develop and issue an internal or external report, e.g. equity analysis report
Includes:
- Summary and investment conclusion
- Business summary
- Risks
- Valuation
- Historical pro forma tables
Financial Analysis Framework
Follow Up
Periodically repeat steps 1-5 to determine whether changes to holdings or recommendation are necessary
Role of Financial Reporting
Provide information about the company’s performance, financial position, and changes in financial position over the reported period
What do primary financial statements include?
- Income statement
- Balance sheet
- Cash flow statement
What do secondary financial statements include?
- Statement of shareholder’s equity
- Financial notes and supplementary schedules
- Management’s discussion and analysis
- Auditor’s reports
What do primary and secondary financial statements (along with other information) allow analysts to do?
- Evaluate past, current, and prospective performance
- Determine the creditworthiness of a company
- Assigning debt rating or compliance with debt covenants
- Forecasting future net income and cash flow
Purpose of Financial Reporting Standards
Limit the range of acceptable answers of how business transactions have to be reported
Standard- Setting Body in the US
The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) is the primary body setting the U.S. GAAP
Standard- Setting Body in the EU
Listed companies have to adopt International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) for financial statements since 2005 issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB)
IFRS Framework
The International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) framework, developed by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), is a set of accounting standards that provides guidelines for the preparation and presentation of financial statements globally.
IFRS Framework - Objective
Provide Fair presentation of
- Financial position
- Financial performance
- Cash flows
IFRS Framework - Qualitative Characteristics (4)
- Understandability
- Relevance
- Reliability
- Comparability
IFRS Framework - Qualitative Characteristics
Understandability
Information should be understandable to users with basic knowledge of business, economic activities, accounting and who have the willingness to study the information with reasonable diligence.
IFRS Framework - Qualitative Characteristics
Relevance
Defined as the influence of an information at hand which must be material, i.e. that omission or misstatement of the information could make a difference to users’ decision
IFRS Framework - Qualitative Characteristics
Reliability
Defined as Information free from material error or bias and includes the following factors:
- Faithful representation
- Substance over form
- Neutrality
- Prudence
- Completeness
IFRS Framework - Qualitative Characteristics
Comparability
Defined in the way that information should be presented in a consistent manner over time and between entities
IFRS Framework - Reporting Elements
Performance
- Income
- Expenses
- Capital Maintenance Adjustments
Financial Position
- Assets
- Liabilities
- Equity
IFRS Framework - Constraints (3)
- Trade-off between timely information and the time it takes to prepare reliable and audited information -> Timeliness
- The benefit from providing the information should exceed the cost of providing it
- Qualitative characteristics are not directly captured in financial statements, e.g. environmental respectfulness, creativity, or customer loyalty
IFRS Framework - Underlying Assumptions
- Accrual basis will reflect business transactions when they actually occur not necessarily when cash movement occurs
- Going concern refers to the assumption that the company will business for the foreseeable future