{"id":245164,"date":"2021-08-26T04:57:08","date_gmt":"2021-08-26T04:57:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/imarticus.org\/?p=245164"},"modified":"2026-05-15T14:27:36","modified_gmt":"2026-05-15T08:57:36","slug":"financial-analysis-data-tips-for-beginners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/imarticus.org\/blog\/financial-analysis-data-tips-for-beginners\/","title":{"rendered":"Financial Analysis Data Tips for Beginners"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Financial analytics involves the process of evaluating a company\u2019s financial data to assess its performance and recommend improved ways of moving forward. Today\u2019s business environment is more competitive than ever. While finance forms a critical part of every business, companies need more than basic financial statements and reports.<\/p>\n<p>They need progressive, predictive, and actionable insights that can help mould future business strategies and improve routine decision-making processes.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-245084 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/imarticus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/shutterstock_1992076766-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"best financial analyst courses\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/imarticus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/shutterstock_1992076766-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/imarticus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/shutterstock_1992076766-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/imarticus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/shutterstock_1992076766-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/imarticus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/shutterstock_1992076766-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/imarticus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/shutterstock_1992076766-900x600.jpg 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>The sheer ability of financial analytics to address critical business problems has led to an acute demand for skilled Financial Analysts and <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/imarticus.org\/financial-analysis-prodegree\/\">courses for Financial Analysts<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>So, here\u2019s a beginners\u2019 guide on financial analysis and where you can find the best Financial Analyst course.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Types of Financial Analysis<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Out of the several financial analysis types, we\u2019ll briefly talk about the three most important ones:<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Horizontal Analysis<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Horizontal analysis helps an analyst identify important trends and determine whether the company is growing or facing decline. It is done by taking financial data of a specific period and comparing them to calculate the growth rate.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Vertical Analysis<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>In this type of financial analysis, various components of the company\u2019s income statement are divided by the revenue and expressed as a percentage. The results are then compared against those of other companies within the industry to evaluate performance.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Financial Ratios<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Financial ratio analysis helps to track and make comparative judgments about the company\u2019s performance. This quantitative analysis assesses a company\u2019s leverage, liquidity, growth, profitability, margins, valuation, rates of return, and more.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Financial Statement Analysis<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Every company creates and monitors the following three main financial statements:<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Income Statement\/Profit and Loss Statement<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>The income statement reveals a company\u2019s revenue and breaks it down against the business expenses. In other words, it shows the company\u2019s net profit or loss after incurring costs.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Balance Sheet<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>The balance sheet reports a company\u2019s assets, liabilities, and shareholder\u2019s equity at a particular point in time. It is the basis for calculating the rates of return and evaluating the company\u2019s capital structure.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Cash Flow Statement<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>The cash flow statement summarizes a company\u2019s cash flow from investing activities, operating activities, and financing activities. It shows a company\u2019s ability to function in the short and long term based on the amount of cash flow into and out of the business.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Techniques of Financial Analysis<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>An organization\u2019s financial performance can be assessed using a variety of analysis techniques. Here we\u2019ll cover four common financial analysis techniques:<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Comparative Financial Statements<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>This technique involving the income statement and balance sheet compares two financial statements from different periods in time.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Trend Analysis<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>In this analysis technique, metrics of one period are compared with another to reveal the financial health status of the company.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Statement of Changes in Working Capital<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>The total current liabilities are deducted from the total current assets to calculate the net working capital in this technique.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Common Size Statements<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>This vertical analysis technique helps in the comparison of two similar statements between companies or different periods.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Financial Analysis Best Practices<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Identify critical business problems and work out how financial analytics can help.<\/li>\n<li>Start with a small pilot program requiring minimum effort and investment.<\/li>\n<li>Organize, structure, and manage data sources.<\/li>\n<li>Continuously monitor and improve data and tools for increased impact and relevance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>Financial Analysis Prodegree Course<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>There are a lot of financial analysis courses available online. One of the more popular courses is the <a href=\"https:\/\/imarticus.org\/financial-analysis-prodegree-in-collaboration-with-KPMG-curriculum\/\">Financial Analysis Prodegree,<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/imarticus.org\/financial-analysis-prodegree-in-collaboration-with-KPMG-curriculum\/\"> in collaboration with KPMG<\/a>. It is a 180-hour skill-building Financial Analyst Course covering financial modeling, accounting, valuation, corporate strategy, and equity research. One of the most rigorous project-based courses for Financial Analysts, it prepares individuals for careers across sectors like corporate finance, investment banking, and private equity.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Financial analytics involves the process of evaluating a company\u2019s financial data to assess its performance and recommend improved ways of moving forward. Today\u2019s business environment is more competitive than ever. While finance forms a critical part of every business, companies need more than basic financial statements and reports. They need progressive, predictive, and actionable insights [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":245066,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_mo_disable_npp":"","_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[2465,2689,873,1218,2077,2230],"class_list":["post-245164","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-finance","tag-best-financial-analyst-course","tag-best-financial-modelling-cour","tag-banking-and-finance","tag-financial-analyst-career","tag-career-options-after-graduation","tag-financial-analyst-online-training"],"acf":{"youtube-url-id":"","publised_date":"","ls_key":"CIBOP"},"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO 4.9.8 - aioseo.com -->\n\t<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Financial analytics involves the process of evaluating a company\u2019s financial data to assess its performance and recommend improved ways of moving forward. 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