NCERT Solutions Class 12 Accountancy 2 Analysis of Financial Statements

Answer : The most commonly used techniques of financial analysis are as follows
(i) Comparative Statements: These are the statements showing the profitability and financial position of a firm for different periods of time in a comparative form to give an idea about the position of two or more periods. The financial data will be comparative only when same accounting principles are used in preparing these statements. Comparative figures indicate the trend and direction of financial position and operating results. This analysis is also known as ‘horizontal analysis’.
(ii) Common Size Statements: These are the statements which indicate the relationship of different items of a financial statement with some common item by expressing each item as a percentage of the common item. The percentage thus calculated can be easily compared with the results corresponding percentages of the previous year or of some other firms, as the numbers are brought to common base. Such statements also allow an analyst to compare the operating and financing characteristics of two companies of different sizes in the same industry. This analysis is also known as ‘Vertical analysis’.
(iii) Trend Analysis :It is a technique of studying the operational results and financial position over a series of years. Using the previous years’ data of a business enterprise, trend analysis can be done to observe the percentage changes over time in the selected data. Trend analysis is important because, with its long run view, it may point to basic changes in the nature of the business. By looking at a trend in a particular ratio, one may find whether the ratio is falling, rising or remaining relatively constant. From this observation, a problem is detected or the sign of good management is found. .
(iv) Ratio Analysis :It describes the significant relationship which exists between various items of a balance sheet and a profit and loss account of a firm. As a technique of financial analysis, accounting ratios measure the comparative significance of the individual items of the income and position statements.
(v) Cash Flow Analysis :It refers to the analysis of actual movement of cash into and out of an organisation. The flow of cash into the business is called as cash inflow or positive cash flow and the flow of cash out of the firm is called as cash outflow or a negative cash flow. The difference between the inflow and outflow of cash is the net cash flow.
Limitations of Financial Analysis
The following are the limitations of Financial Analysis
(i) Ignorance of Price Level Changes :Financial statement is based on historical cost method and fails to capture the change in price level. The figures of different years are taken on nominal values and not in real terms (i.e., not taking price change into considerations).
(ii) Misleading and Wrong information: The financial analysis fails to reveal the change in the accounting procedures and practices. Consequently, they may provide wrong and misleading information.
(iii) Fail to Provide Final Picture: The financial analysis presents only the interim report and thereby provides incomplete information. They fail to provide the final and holistic picture.
(iv) Consider Only Monetary Aspect: This is one of the limitations of financial analysis that it reveals only the monetary aspects. Only those items are considered here which can be measured in term of money and fail to disclose managerial efficiency, growth prospects, and other non-operational efficiency of a business.
(v) Non-Reliable Conclusions :Conclusion base on financial analysis may be non reliable because financial statement are based on certain concepts and conventions.
(vi) Involves Personal Biasness: The financial analysis reflects the personal biasness and personal value judgments of the accountants and clerks involved. There are different techniques used by different personnel for charging depreciation (original cost or written-down value method) and also for inventory valuation. The use of different techniques by different people reduces the effectiveness of the financial analysis.
(vii) Unsuitable for Comparisons :Due to the involvement of personal value judgment, personal biasness and use of different techniques by different accountant, various types of comparisons such as inter-firm and intra-firm comparisons may not be possible and reliable.

Answer : The Trend Analysis presents each financial item in percentage terms for each year. These Trend Analysis not only help the accounting users to assess the financial performance of the business but also assist them to form an opinion about various tendencies and predict the future trend of the business.

Usefulness and Importance of Trend Analysis:
The following are the various importance of Trend Analysis
(i) Assists in Forecasting: The trends provided by Trend Analysis help the accounting users to forecast the future trend of the business.
(ii) Percentage Terms: The trends are expressed in percentage terms. Analysing the percentage figures is easy and also less time consuming.
(iii) User Friendly: As the trends are expressed in percentage figures, so it is the most popular financial analysis to analyse the financial performance and operational efficiency of the company. In other words, one needs not to have an in-depth and sophisticated knowledge of accounting in order to analyse these percentage trends.
(iv) Presents a Broader Picture :The trend analysis presents a broader picture about the financial performance, viability and operational efficiency of a business. Generally, companies prefer to present their financial data for a period of 5 or 10 years in forms of percentage trends.

Answer : The following are the importance of Comparative Statements.
(i) Make Presentation Simpler : Comparative statements presents the financial data in a simpler form. On the other hand, an year-wise data of the same items are presented side-by-side, which not only makes the presentation clear but also enables easy comparisons (both intra-firm and inter-firm) conclusive.
(ii) Help in Drawing Conclusion: The presentation of comparative statement is so effective that it helps the analyst to draw conclusion quickly and easily and that too without any ambiguity.
(iii) Help in Forecasting :The management may analyse the trend and forecast and draft various future plans and policy measures, with the help of comparative statement:
(iv) Help in Detection of Problems :The comparative analysis not only enables the management in locating the problems but also helps them to put various budgetary controls and corrective measures to check whether the current performance is aligned with that of the ” planned targets. With the help of the comparison of the financial data of two or more years, the financial management can easily detect the problems.

Answer : Financial Analysis has great importance to various accounting users on various matters. Income Statements, Balance Sheets and other financial data‘provide information about expenses and sources of income, profit or loss and also helps in assessing the financial position of a business.
These financial data are not useful until they are analysed. There are various tools and methods such as Ratio Analysis, Cash Flow Statements that make the financial data to cater varying needs of various accounting users.
The following are the reasons that advocate in favour of Financial Analysis
(i) It helps in evaluating the profit earning capacity and financial feasibility of a business.
(ii) It helps in assessing the long-term solvency of the business.
(iii) It helps in evaluating the relative financial status of a firm in comparison to other competitive firms.
(iv) It assists management in decision making process, drafting various plans and also in establishing an effective controlling system.

Answer : Common size statements can be classified into two broad categories
(i) Common Size Income Statements
(ii) Common Size Balance Sheet
Common Size Statement is prepared in a columnar form for analysis. In a Common Size Statement, each item of the financial statements is compared to a common item. The analyses based on these statements are commonly known as Vertical Analysis.
The following are the columns prepared in a Common Size Statement
(a) Particulars Column:This column shows the various financial items under their respective heads.
(b) Amount Columns :These columns depict the amount of each item, sub-totals and the gross total of a particular year.
(c) Percentage or Ratio Columns :These columns show the proportion of each item to the common item either in terms of percentage or ratio.

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Comments
(i) Decrease in current Liabilities is more than decrease in current assets which indicates that the current ratio has improved.
(ii) Decrease in cash and bank may result in delay in payments.
(iii) Fixed Assets have increased along with share capital. It indicates that such asset has been purchased using Long term sources of finance.
(iv) Increase in reserve and surplus is a healthy indicator.