However, as additional information, Colgate has provided some details of segments on page 87. Likewise, we can do the same for all the other entries in the income statement. As we see, we can correctly identify the trends and develop relevant areas to target for further analysis.

• Vertical analysis shows a comparison of a line item within a statement to another line item within that same statement.
• In the next section, you have step-by-step instructions on how to do horizontal analysis with examples using a balance sheet and an income statement.
• With this knowledge, you too can become more effective at analyzing businesses and make informed decisions about investments.
• In addition, the use of horizontal analysis makes it easier to project trends into the future.
• We expect to offer our courses in additional languages in the future but, at this time, HBS Online can only be provided in English.
• Individuals who wish to invest in a company must decide whether to sell their present shares or purchase more.

There were rises of more than 12% in all categories of property other than transport equipment. The example from Safeway Stores shows a comparative balance sheet for 2018 and 2019 following a similar format to the income statement retail accounting above. Horizontal, or trend, analysis is used to spot and evaluate trends over a specific period of time. Now we can assume a sales growth percentage based on the historical trends and project the revenues under each segment.

Income Statement Example

The earlier year is typically used as the base year for calculating increases or decreases in amounts. You use horizontal analysis to find and monitor trends over a period of time. Instead of creating an income statement or balance sheet for one period, you would also create a comparative balance sheet or income statement to cover quarterly or annual business activities. Consistency is important when performing horizontal analysis of financial statements. When the same accounting standards are used over the years, the financial statements of the company are easier to compare and trends are easily analyzed. Once you have your company’s values for the variables of interest, you need to find those of similar companies in your industry for the selected time periods.

• The analysis is usually just a basic grouping of data ordered by period, but the numbers in each consecutive period can also be stated as a percentage of the amount in the baseline year, with the baseline amount indicated as 100%.
• By comparing different years or quarters side-by-side, they can see how their business is progressing or regressing in relation to itself from period to period.
• It can also be used to project the amounts of various line items into the future.
• The vertical method is used on a single financial statement, such as an income statement, and involves each item being expressed as a percentage of a significant total.
• Having completed the horizontal analysis and vertical analysis of Synotech’s balance sheet and statement of income and retained earnings, you are ready to study trend percentages and ratio analysis.

Horizontal Analysis → The comparison of a company’s financial data between periods to spot trends , as well as for peer group benchmarking purposes. Thus, companies of different sizes in terms of total revenue and currently at different stages in their lifecycle can still be compared to obtain useful insights. A horizontal analysis can be performed on any type of financial statement, but is most commonly used on the income statement. To complete a horizontal analysis, the first step is to determine the base year, which is the year that will be used as the starting point for comparisons.

How to Create a Horizontal Company Financial Statement Analysis

For example, a https://www.scoopearth.com/the-importance-of-retail-accounting-in-improving-inventory-management/ of the cost of insurance might list the cost on a quarterly basis for the past few years, while a vertical analysis would present it as a percentage of sales only for the current period. There’s a reason horizontal analysis is often referred to as trend analysis. Looking at and comparing the financial performance of your business from period to period can help you spot positive trends, such as an increase in sales, as well as red flags that need to be addressed. Horizontal analysis is an approach used to analyze financial statements by comparing specific financial information for a certain accounting period with information from other periods.

A horizontal analysis is an important tool for financial professionals, since it allows them to quickly and easily compare the performance of a company over multiple periods. By comparing different years or quarters side-by-side, they can see how their business is progressing or regressing in relation to itself from period to period. Understanding what a horizontal analysis is and having the ability to use it effectively are both crucial components of being successful as a financial analyst. With this knowledge, you too can become more effective at analyzing businesses and make informed decisions about investments. Third, horizontal analysis assumes that all items on the financial statements are equally important.

Horizontal analysis and vertical analysis: An illustration

The horizontal analysis shows that sales increased a total of USD 469.0 million, an increase of 4.7 per cent. Since cost of goods sold increased by a much smaller amount (USD 117.6 million), gross profit increased by USD 351.4, or 7.3 per cent. The USD 552.6 million expense in 2009 was the result of a provision for restructured operations.

The primary difference between vertical analysis and horizontal analysis is that vertical analysis is focused on the relationships between the numbers in a single reporting period, or one moment in time. Horizontal analysis looks at certain line items, ratios, or factors over several periods to determine the extent of changes and their trends. With different bits of calculated information now embedded into the financial statements, it’s time to analyze the results. The identification of trends and patterns is driven by asking specific, guided questions. For example, upper management may ask “how well did each geographical region manage COGS over the past four quarters?”.

The percentage change can then be calculated by dividing the dollar change over the base year amount and multiplying the result by 100. The horizontal method is a comparative, and presents the same company’s financial statements for one or two successive periods in side-by-side columns. This comparative display shows dollar changes or percentage changes in the statement items or totals across given periods of time. Horizontal analysis detects changes in a company’s performance and highlights various other trends. The comparative financial statements of Synotech, Inc., will serve as a basis for an example of horizontal analysis and vertical analysis of a balance sheet and a statement of income and retained earnings. Recall that horizontal analysis calculates changes in comparative statement items or totals, whereas vertical analysis consists of a comparison of items on a single financial statement.

Generally, the technique helps in understanding the performance of a business to be able to make informed decisions. For instance, if management establishes the revenue increase or decrease in the cost of goods sold is the reason for rising earnings per share, the horizontal analysis can confirm. With metrics like the cash flow to debt ratio, coverage ratios, interest coverage ratio, and other financial ratios, the horizontal analysis can determine whether sufficient liquidity can service the company. It can also be used to compare growth rates and profitability over a period of time, across companies in the same industry.

Financial Statement Analysis

The comparability constraint dictates that your statements and documents need to be evaluated against companies similar to yours within the same industry. Horizontal analysis improves and enhances the constraints during financial reporting. By looking at the numbers provided by a company, you should see whether there are any large differences between one year and the next. It is also possible to perform this analysis with time series data to make direct comparisons with other companies.

For example, if a company’s current year revenue is $50 million in 2022 and its revenue in the base period, 2021, was $40 million, the net difference between the two periods is $10 million. For instance, if a most recent year amount was three times as large as the base year, the most recent year will be presented as 300. This type of analysis reveals trends in line items such as cost of goods sold. First, a direction comparison simply looks at the results from one period and comparing it to another.