Introduction
Financial statement analysis has proven to be useful in a wide range of business decisions. Equity analysts use it as a foundation for their projections of the earnings potential of a company. Credit analysts use it as a tool to determine whether loans should be granted or extended.
The corporate annual report is the primary document in financial statement analysis. We will examine where to find relevant information and what it indicates about the "health of the company". The course demonstrates how financial information can be used to evaluate a company's past performance and present circumstances as well as what might transpire in the future (forecasts).