What is a financial analysis? Definition and examples

A financial analysis is an assessment of how viable, stable, solvent, and profitable a business or project is. The term may refer to an assessment of how effectively funds have been invested. By funds, in this context, we mean investments and debt. A financial analysis may also be an assessment of the value and safety of debtors’ claims against the company’s assets.

Put simply; we undertake a financial analysis to determine whether a project, for example, is a good investment. Will the project be stable, solvent, liquid, or profitable enough to merit the investment?

When people carry out a financial analysis of a company, they examine the income statement and balance sheet. They also focus on the cash flow statement.

YourDictionary.com has the following definition of the term:

“A financial analysis looks at many aspects of a business from its profitability and stability to its solvency and liquidity.”

We also call it a financial statement analysis, analysis of finance, or accounting analysis.

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The people who carry out a financial analysis present their findings to top management. The findings subsequently help the senior managers in their decision-making process.

Financial analysis – four elements

In a typical analysis, we usually review the profitability, solvency, liquidity, and stability of a project or business.

Profitability

Let’s suppose we are analyzing a project. We must first determine whether it will be profitable.

In other words, will it make money, i.e., a profit. Will the financial reward be worth the risk?

Solvency

If we are analyzing a company, we need to determine whether its debts are too high.

A company’s solvency is its ability to meet long-term financial obligations.

To determine solvency, we divide total assets by total liabilities. A total of one or more means the company is solvent.

If the total is less than one, the company is insolvent. In other words, the company is unlikely to be able to meet its long-term financial obligations.

Liquidity

Liquidity refers to how much cash a company has or how quickly it could access cash.

A company’s liquidity tells us how easily a company can pay its bills. The most liquid of all assets is cash.

A business must be able to do two things at the same time: 1. Maintain a positive cash flow. 2. Pay for the things it needs immediately.

Stability

When making plans, business people hate instability more than anything else. Being able to make medium-term and long-term plans is important.

This is not possible if a business is unstable. Stability is not only important at company level, but also at national level.

Financial analysis helps us make decisions

After carrying out a financial analysis, senior management and investors can better determine whether to:

  • Shut down part of a company or keep it going. It might also help people decide whether to sell it.
  • Go ahead with a project. The analysis could also help decide whether to change some aspects of a proposed project.
  • Get a bank loan or issue shares to increase the company’s working capital.
  • Lend capital or invest in a company or project. In other words, become either a creditor or partner.
  • Buy or rent/lease production machinery.