Balance Sheet Analysis
Structured approach to analyzing a company's balance sheet based on the App Economy Insights methodology.
Analysis Workflow
1. Gather the Data
Obtain balance sheet data:
- •Quarterly (10-Q) or Annual (10-K) filings
- •Multiple periods for trend analysis (minimum 4 quarters or 2-3 years)
- •Competitor data for benchmarking
- •Income statement data for profitability ratios (ROA, ROE)
2. Analyze Assets
Evaluate asset composition:
- •Current vs Non-current: Asset liquidity profile
- •Cash position: Strength and trend
- •Receivables: Collection efficiency (watch for growth outpacing revenue)
- •Inventory: Turnover and obsolescence risk
- •Goodwill: Acquisition dependency (warning if >25% of total assets)
3. Analyze Liabilities
Evaluate debt structure:
- •Current vs Long-term: Maturity profile
- •Short-term debt: Refinancing risk
- •Long-term debt: Can it be paid off in 3-4 years of earnings? (Buffett test)
- •Deferred revenue: Positive signal for recurring business
4. Assess Shareholders' Equity
Evaluate ownership value:
- •Retained earnings: Positive and growing?
- •Treasury stock: Share buyback activity
- •Equity trend: Building or eroding over time?
5. Calculate Key Ratios
code
Current Ratio = Current Assets / Current Liabilities Quick Ratio = (Cash + ST Investments + A/R) / Current Liabilities Debt-to-Equity = Total Liabilities / Total Equity ROA = Net Income / Total Assets ROE = Net Income / Shareholders' Equity
For complete formulas and benchmarks: See references/metrics-formulas.md
6. Evaluate Financial Health
Assess four key traits:
- •Liquidity: Can short-term obligations be met? (Current ratio > 1.0)
- •Solvency: Can long-term debts be serviced? (Interest coverage > 3.0)
- •Efficiency: Are assets being used productively? (Asset turnover)
- •Profitability: Are assets generating returns? (ROA, ROE)
7. Compare and Benchmark
Perform comparative analysis:
- •Trend Analysis: Track changes over multiple periods
- •Peer Comparison: Benchmark against competitors
- •Common-Size Analysis: Express items as % of total assets
- •DuPont Analysis: Decompose ROE into margin, turnover, leverage
For complete checklist: See references/analysis-framework.md
Output Structure
Present analysis as:
- •Asset Quality: Composition, liquidity, and efficiency
- •Liability Assessment: Debt levels, maturity, and risk
- •Equity Position: Retained earnings, capital structure
- •Liquidity Analysis: Current ratio, quick ratio with trends
- •Solvency Analysis: Debt-to-equity, interest coverage
- •Profitability: ROA, ROE, DuPont decomposition
- •Red Flags: Any concerns identified
- •Summary: Overall financial health assessment
Critical Context
Balance sheets cannot be analyzed in a vacuum. Connect findings to:
- •Income Statement: For profitability ratios and interest coverage
- •Cash Flow Statement: For actual cash generation vs balance sheet changes