Importance of Financial Statements Financial statements are the important sources of information to all the users of accounting information like; management, owners, debtors, creditors, employees, government agencies, financial analysts, etc. The following are the points which highlight the importance of financial statements: Financial statements are the summary of information relating to profitability, and resources owned by the firm. Financial statements provide the information which can be compared with those of other firms. Employees can use financial statements to demand for increment in salary and other benefits. Bankers and other financial institutions can use financial statements to make the lending decisions. Government bases on financial statements of the companies for the calculation of tax revenue from the firms. Financial statements can be used as the basis for management decision-making purpose like planning, promotion, research and development decisions etc. Existing investors can use financial statements to assess how efficiently the firm is Continue reading
Financial Management Tools
DuPont Analysis – Return on Equity (ROE) Analysis
Financial statement analysis is employed for a variety of reasons. Outside investors are seeking information as to the long run viability of a business and its prospects for providing an adequate return in consideration of the risks being taken. Creditors desire to know whether a potential borrower or customer can service loans being made. Internal analysts and management utilize financial statement analysis as a means to monitor the outcome of policy decisions, predict future performance targets, develop investment strategies, and assess capital needs. As the role of the credit manager is expanded cross-functionally, he or she may be required to answer the call to conduct financial statement analysis under any of these circumstances. The DuPont analysis is a useful tool in providing both an overview and a focus for such analysis. History of DuPont Analysis The DuPont model of financial analysis was made by F. Donaldson Brown, an electrical engineer Continue reading
The Concept of Zero Working Capital
In today’s world of intense global competition, working capital management is receiving increasing attention form managers striving for peak efficiency the goal of many leading companies today, is zero working capital. Proponent of the zero working capital concept claims that a movement toward this goal not only generates cash but also speeds up production and helps business make more timely deliveries and operate more efficiently. The concept has its own definition of working capital: inventories+ receivables- payables. The rational here is (i) that inventories and receivables are the keys to making sales, but (ii) that inventories can be financed by suppliers through account payables. Zero working capital also refers to the equality between current assets and current liabilities at all times. To avoid excess investment in current assets, firms try to meet their current liabilities out of the current assets fully if they follow this concept. Consequently, smooth and uninterrupted Continue reading
Credit Derivatives – Meaning and Definition
Rationale for Introducing Credit Derivatives Our present society lives on credit. Credit allows us to consume far more than what our savings can sustain. Therefore, credit is the very basis of consumerism. Our economy drives on the basic force of credit. What exactly is credit? Credit is parting with value today against a promise for value in future and this credit has inherent risk in it which is known as credit risk. Credit risk is the risk that the promise of payment in future may be broken. In other words, credit risk is an investor’s risk of loss arising from a borrower who does not make payments as promised. When the borrower fails to make payments, it is termed as default. So, credit risk is also known as default risk. This concept of credit risk can be looked at from two perspectives. Credit risk on the loans granted by banks Continue reading
Divisional Performance Measurement
Performance measurement is the performance-based management process which is flowing from the organizational mission and the strategic planning process. Divisional performance measurement includes the objective and subjective assessments of the performance sub-units of an organization such as divisions or departments. Divisional performance measurement are effective in ensure that a strategy of organisation is successfully implemented by monitor a divisions effectiveness in satisfying its own predetermined goals or stakeholder desires. Divisional performance measures may be based on non-financial as well as on financial information. Divisional Performance Measurement – Financial Measures 1. The Return on Investment (ROI) Nowadays, most of companies concentrate on the return on investment (ROI) of a division that is profit as a percentage in direct relation to investment of division which instead of focusing on the size of a division’s profits. ROI addressed divisional profit as a percentage of the assets employed in the division. Assets employed can Continue reading
Price to Cash Flow Ratio
Instead of Price Earning (P/E) Ratio many investment analysts prefer to look at price cash flow ratio. A Price to Cash Flow Ratio is measured as the company’s current stock price divided by its current annual cash flow per share. Price/Cash Flow Ratio = Price Per Share / (Cash Flow / Shares Outstanding) There are varieties of definitions of cash flow. In this context, the most famous measure is simply calculated as net income plus depreciation. Cash flow is usually reported in firm’s financial statement and labeled as cash flow from operations. The difference between cash and earnings is often confusing largely because the way standard accounting practice defines net income. Essentially net income is measured as incomes minus expenses. Obviously this is logical. However not all are actual cash expenses. The most important exception is depreciation. When a firm acquires a long-lived asset such as new factor facility, standard Continue reading