Reading Financial Statements
Master the analysis of corporate financial statements: interpret balance sheets, income statements, and cash flows to make informed financial decisions.
Master the analysis of corporate financial statements: interpret balance sheets, income statements, and cash flows to make informed financial decisions.
This beginner-level course teaches you how to read and understand financial statements and company reports – an essential skill for financial analysts. Using real company annual reports as examples, you'll learn to navigate through complex financial documents to assess a company's financial strength and make informed decisions. The curriculum covers the structure and content of annual reports, including business overviews, risk factors, and Management Discussion & Analysis (MD&A) sections. You'll develop skills to analyze balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements, while gaining insights into complex accounting concepts like deferred taxes, goodwill, and intangible assets. Special attention is given to interpreting financial statement footnotes for deeper understanding. Designed for both beginners and finance professionals seeking a refresher, this course provides practical knowledge that serves as a foundation for financial modeling and valuation.
4.7
(13 ratings)
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What you'll learn
Learn the structure and contents of annual reports
Understand company operations and business strategy through financial disclosures
Identify and analyze risk factors facing companies
Interpret balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements
Comprehend complex accounting concepts like deferred taxes and goodwill
Read and understand the Management Discussion & Analysis section
Skills you'll gain
This course includes:
1.72 Hours PreRecorded video
1 assignment
Access on Mobile, Tablet, Desktop
FullTime access
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There are 6 modules in this course
This course teaches students how to effectively read and analyze financial statements and annual reports to evaluate a company's financial health. Using Starbucks' annual report as a primary case study, the curriculum provides hands-on experience with real-world financial documents. Students learn to navigate through corporate reports, locate key information, and understand the significance of different sections including the Management Discussion & Analysis (MD&A), business overview, and risk factors. The course covers detailed analysis of the three main financial statements - balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement - with special focus on complex accounting concepts like deferred taxes, goodwill, intangible assets, and revenue recognition. Students also learn to interpret footnotes and calculate financial ratios to gain deeper insights into a company's performance.
Getting Started
Module 1 · 11 Minutes to complete
Understanding the Annual Report
Module 2 · 1 Hours to complete
Understanding Financial Statements
Module 3 · 1 Hours to complete
Income Statement and Cashflow Statement
Module 4 · 1 Hours to complete
Course Summary
Module 5 · 10 Minutes to complete
Qualified Assessment
Module 6 · 1 Hours to complete
Fee Structure
Instructor
Global Finance Education Leader CFI Transforms Professional Development Through Comprehensive Training
Corporate Finance Institute (CFI), headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, has established itself as a premier global provider of online financial education and certification programs, serving over 300,000 professionals worldwide. The institute offers comprehensive training through its flagship certifications including the Financial Modeling & Valuation Analyst (FMVA), Commercial Banking & Credit Analyst (CBCA), Capital Markets and Securities Analyst (CMSA), and Business Intelligence and Data Analyst (BIDA) programs. With endorsements from global leaders like Microsoft, Amazon, IBM, and major financial institutions including Citigroup and HSBC, CFI's curriculum bridges the gap between traditional business education and practical industry requirements. The institute's commitment to excellence is reflected in its NASBA-registered CPE programs, practical skill-focused training, and its successful 2021 acquisition of Macabacus, demonstrating its ongoing evolution in serving the global finance community with cutting-edge educational resources
Testimonials
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4.7 course rating
13 ratings
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