Investors look closely at financial statements to understand how well a company is doing and to help them make smart choices. There are three main financial statements: the balance sheet, the income statement, and the cash flow statement. Each one has its own job, but they all work together.
Balance Sheet:
Think of the balance sheet as a snapshot of a company's money situation at a specific time.
It shows what the company owns (assets), what it owes (liabilities), and what is left for the owners (equity).
Investors use this information to figure out if the company is financially stable and can pay its bills.
Some important numbers from the balance sheet are the current ratio and the debt-to-equity ratio.
These help investors see how risky the investment might be and how well the company is running.
Income Statement:
This statement is like a report card that shows how much money the company made (revenue), how much it spent (expenses), and how much it keeps as profit (net income) over a set time period.
Investors pay attention to how revenue grows and how well the company controls its costs.
They also look at things like gross and net profit margins, which tell them how well the company is making money.
A company that makes consistent profits is usually more appealing to investors.
Cash Flow Statement:
This statement shows how cash moves in and out of the company from different activities, like operating, investing, and financing.
It helps investors see if the company is good at bringing in cash, which is very important for keeping the company running and allowing it to grow.
Investors particularly look at cash flow from operations because it shows how well the main business is operating.
Strong cash flow means that a company can meet its financial responsibilities without needing extra money from outside.
In simple terms, investors look at these three financial statements together to understand how healthy a company is.
They use this information to see if the company is a good investment choice.
By looking at liquidity (money available), profitability (making money), and cash generation (how cash moves), investors can get a full picture of a company’s financial performance.
This helps them find good opportunities to invest their money.
Investors look closely at financial statements to understand how well a company is doing and to help them make smart choices. There are three main financial statements: the balance sheet, the income statement, and the cash flow statement. Each one has its own job, but they all work together.
Balance Sheet:
Think of the balance sheet as a snapshot of a company's money situation at a specific time.
It shows what the company owns (assets), what it owes (liabilities), and what is left for the owners (equity).
Investors use this information to figure out if the company is financially stable and can pay its bills.
Some important numbers from the balance sheet are the current ratio and the debt-to-equity ratio.
These help investors see how risky the investment might be and how well the company is running.
Income Statement:
This statement is like a report card that shows how much money the company made (revenue), how much it spent (expenses), and how much it keeps as profit (net income) over a set time period.
Investors pay attention to how revenue grows and how well the company controls its costs.
They also look at things like gross and net profit margins, which tell them how well the company is making money.
A company that makes consistent profits is usually more appealing to investors.
Cash Flow Statement:
This statement shows how cash moves in and out of the company from different activities, like operating, investing, and financing.
It helps investors see if the company is good at bringing in cash, which is very important for keeping the company running and allowing it to grow.
Investors particularly look at cash flow from operations because it shows how well the main business is operating.
Strong cash flow means that a company can meet its financial responsibilities without needing extra money from outside.
In simple terms, investors look at these three financial statements together to understand how healthy a company is.
They use this information to see if the company is a good investment choice.
By looking at liquidity (money available), profitability (making money), and cash generation (how cash moves), investors can get a full picture of a company’s financial performance.
This helps them find good opportunities to invest their money.