Chapter 3
Financial Statements and Ratio Analysis
Instructor’s Resources
Overview
This chapter examines four key components of the stockholders’ report: the income statement, balance sheet,
statement of retained earnings, and the statement of cash flows. On the income statement and balance sheet, the
major accounts/balances are reviewed for the student. The rules for consolidating a company’s foreign and
domestic financial statements (FASB No. 52) are described. Following the financial statement coverage, the
chapter covers the evaluation of financial statements using the technique of ratio analysis. Ratio analysis is used by
prospective shareholders, creditors, and a firm’s own management to measure the firm’s operating and financial
health. Three types of comparative analysis are defined: cross-sectional analysis, time-series analysis, and
combined analysis. The ratios are divided into five basic categories: liquidity, activity, debt, profitability, and
market. Each ratio is defined and calculated using the financial statements of Bartlett Company. A brief
explanation of the implications of deviation from industry standard ratios is offered, with a complete (cross-sectional
and time-series) ratio analysis of Bartlett Company ending the chapter. The DuPont system of analysis is also
integrated into the example. The importance of understanding financial statements is highlighted through discussions
of how such knowledge will help a student be a more efficient business manager and more effectively make
personal financial decisions.
Suggested Answer to Opener-in-Review Question
For the year ended December 31, 2012, General Dynamics reported sales of $31.5 million and cost of goods
sold of $26.4 million. What was the company’s gross profit margin that year?
Sales Cost of goods sold Gross profits
Gross profit margin Sales Sales
–
= =
Gross profit margin for 2012
$31.5million $26.4million $5.1million 16.19%
$31.5million $31.5million
–
= = =
Answers to Review Questions
1. The role of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and Public Company Accounting Oversight
Board (PCAOB) regulatory agencies in the financial reporting of businesses is highly significant. The
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