Module 19A Study Note Flashcard

Question:

What are the main components of financial statements?

Answer:

Balance Sheet, Income Statement, Cash Flow Statement, and Statement of Changes in Equity.

Question:

Explain the relationship between share price and company profits.

Answer:

Share prices often reflect the market's expectations of a company's future profitability and earnings.

Question:

How does financial statement analysis fit within a wider context of business analysis?

Answer:

It provides insights into a company's operational efficiency, profitability, and financial stability.

Question:

What is the primary purpose of financial statement analysis?

Answer:

To assess the financial health and performance of a company for informed decision-making.

Question:

List other important information included in the annual report besides financial statements.

Answer:

Management discussion and analysis, corporate governance report, and notes to the financial statements.

Question:

What is the role of the auditor's report?

Answer:

To provide an independent opinion on the accuracy and fairness of a company's financial statements.

Question:

Define the financial reporting framework.

Answer:

A set of rules and guidelines that govern the preparation and presentation of financial statements.

Question:

What are the prerequisites for drawing up financial statements?

Answer:

Adherence to accounting principles, proper bookkeeping, and accurate financial data.

Question:

What is the purpose of the income statement/statement of comprehensive income?

Answer:

To show a company's revenues, expenses, and profits over a specific period.

Question:

Name key items found in the balance sheet.

Answer:

Assets, liabilities, and shareholders' equity.

Question:

What does the balance sheet/statement of financial position represent?

Answer:

A snapshot of a company's financial position at a specific point in time, showing assets, liabilities, and equity.

Question:

Explain the statement of changes in equity.

Answer:

It details the changes in a company's equity over a reporting period, including profits, losses, and dividends.

Question:

What are some common techniques of financial statement analysis?

Answer:

Ratio analysis, trend analysis, and vertical and horizontal analysis.

Question:

How can financial statement analysis be used to assess performance?

Answer:

By comparing financial ratios and metrics over time and against industry benchmarks.

Question:

Briefly describe consolidated financial statements.

Answer:

Financial statements that present the financial position and results of a parent company and its subsidiaries as a single entity.

Question:

What is the function of the cash flow statement?

Answer:

To provide information on a company's cash inflows and outflows over a period.

Question:

What are some common accounting issues in financial statement analysis?

Answer:

Revenue recognition, expense matching, and inventory valuation.

Question:

List some advantages of ratio analysis.

Answer:

Easy to compute, helps in comparing performance over time, and can highlight financial strengths and weaknesses.

Question:

What are the limitations of ratio analysis?

Answer:

Ratios can be affected by accounting policies, do not account for market conditions, and may not be comparable across different industries.

Question:

Provide an example of ratio analysis.

Answer:

Calculating the current ratio to assess liquidity: Current Assets / Current Liabilities.

Question:

What does the term 'liquidity' refer to in financial analysis?

Answer:

A company's ability to meet its short-term obligations.

Question:

Define horizontal analysis in the context of financial statement analysis.

Answer:

Analyzing trends over time by comparing financial data across multiple periods.

Question:

What does vertical analysis of financial statements involve?

Answer:

Comparing each line item as a percentage of a base figure within the same financial statement.

Question:

Why is understanding the auditor's report crucial for investors?

Answer:

It helps investors assess the reliability and accuracy of the financial statements.

Question:

How does the price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio help investors?

Answer:

It helps investors determine the market value of a stock compared to the company's earnings.

Question:

What is the significance of the debt-to-equity ratio?

Answer:

It indicates the relative proportion of shareholders' equity and debt used to finance a company's assets.

Question:

Explain the importance of the current ratio in liquidity analysis.

Answer:

It measures a company's ability to pay off its short-term liabilities with its short-term assets.

Question:

What is the purpose of the statement of comprehensive income?

Answer:

To show all income and expenses, including those not realized through normal business operations, such as gains and losses from investments.

Question:

Explain the term 'earnings per share (EPS)'.

Answer:

A measure of a company's profitability calculated as net income divided by the number of outstanding shares.

Question:

Why is the cash flow statement important for investors?

Answer:

It provides insights into the liquidity and financial flexibility of a company.