Use Ratio Analysis
Financial ratios are very useful for comparing various aspects of a company's financial health. Common ratios include the following:
- Liquidity Ratios: Measures the ability to meet short-term obligations, for example, the Current Ratio.
- Profitability Ratios: Assesses a company's ability to generate profit, for example, Return on Equity.
- Leverage Ratios: Evaluates the degree of financial risk, for example, Debt-to-Equity Ratio.
By comparing these ratios along the time or industry basis, you can come across performance trends as well as those areas that are possible areas for improvement.