Financial Analysis Fundamentals

Financial analysis is a crucial aspect of assessing a business’s financial health. It offers insights into performance and highlights potential vulnerabilities. In CFI’s “Financial Analysis Fundamentals” course, we will compute and interpret ratios for three different companies, offering insights into their profitability, asset utilization, leverage, and liquidity. Subsequently, we will compare these companies, examining trends, benchmarking, and delving into the DuPont Pyramid.

Financial Analysis Fundamentals Learning Objectives
- Calculate and interpret various return ratios, such as return on equity and return on assets.
- Conduct an in-depth vertical analysis of the income statement, including the calculation and interpretation of different profitability ratios.
- Assess a company’s asset utilization efficiency including undertaking a detailed assessment of its work capital.
- Calculate and interpret a wide range of leverage and liquidity ratios.
- Conduct and present a comprehensive horizontal (trend) financial analysis.
- Compare a company’s performance against that of its industry peers to gain valuable insights.

Recommended Prep Courses
- Accounting Fundamentals
- Reading Financial Statements
Who should take this
financial analysis course?
This financial analysis course is perfect for any aspiring financial analyst working in investment banking, financial planning and analysis (FP&A), equity research, corporate development, and other areas of finance and accounting. This class counts as continuing professional education (CPE) credits for CPAs. For further CPE information, please read before purchasing: https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/about/cpe-information/
Financial Analysis Fundamentals
Approx 5h to complete
100% online and self-paced
What you'll learn
Multimedia
Introduction
Enjoy a Free Preview Free Preview
Course Introduction Free Preview
Course Slides
Profitability and Return Ratio Analysis
What is the Best Practice Financial Analysis Free Preview
Critical Tips for Effective Financial Analysis Free Preview
Financial Analysis Ratio Categories Free Preview
The Three Financial Statements Free Preview
Return Ratios Free Preview
Downloadable Files
Model Overview Free Preview
End of Free Preview Free Preview
Return Ratios Walkthrough
Return Ratios Practice
Interactive Exercise 1
Profitability and Expense Ratios
Tax and Interest Ratios
Profitability and Expense Ratios Walkthrough
Profitability and Expense Ratios Practice
Interactive Exercise 2
Asset Utilization Analysis
Introduction to Asset Utilization Ratios
Asset Turnover Ratios
Cash Turnover and Days
A/R Turnover and Days
Inventory Turnover and Days
A/P Turnover and Days
Working Capital Defined
Combining Working Capital Days Ratios
Asset Utilization Ratios Walkthrough
Asset Utilization Ratios Practice
Interactive Exercise 3
Leverage Analysis
Introduction to Financial Leverage Ratios
Example of Low Leverage
Why Increase Debt Rather than Equity
Optimal Leverage
Total Assets and Total Liabilities to Equity Ratios
Debt to Equity and to Tangible Net Worth Ratios
Debt and Net Debt to EBITDA Ratios
Leverage Ratios Walkthrough
Leverage Ratios Practice
Interactive Exercise 4
Liquidity Analysis
Current and Quick Ratios
EBITDA to Interest Ratio
Liquidity Ratios Walkthrough
Liquidity Ratios Practice
Interactive Exercise 5
Trend (Horizontal) Analysis
What is Trend Analysis
The Benefit of Trend Analysis
Downloadable File
Trend Analysis Walkthrough
Growth Ratios
Growth and Degree of Leverage
Downloadable File
Operative Leverage Scenario
Financial Leverage and Growth
Financial Leverage Scenario
Peer and Industry Benchmarking
What Is Benchmarking
Industry and Peer Group Benchmarking
Picking Peer Group for Benchmarking
Benchmarking Walkthrough
Interactive Exercise 6
Pyramid Analysis
Background to the DuPont Pyramid
Breaking Down the DuPont Pyramid
Big Retailer 3 Step DuPont Pyramid Walkthrough
Mid Retailer 3 Step DuPont Pyramid Practice
Small Retailer 3 Step DuPont Pyramid Debrief
Interactive Exercise 7
Downloadable Files
Summary
Course Summary
Qualified assessment
This Course is Part of the Following Programs
Why stop here? Expand your skills and show your expertise with the professional certifications, specializations, and CPE credits you’re already on your way to earning.
Financial Modeling & Valuation Analyst (FMVA®) Certification
- Skills Learned Financial modeling and valuation, sensitivity analysis, strategy
- Career Prep Investment banking and equity research, FP&A, corporate development
FinTech Industry Professional (FTIP™)
- Skills Learned Financial Technology Fundamentals, Data Science and Machine Learning, Cryptocurrencies and Blockchain
- Career Prep Data Science and Machine Learning, Data Analyst, Business Analyst, Software Developer
Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) Specialization
- Skills Learned Accounting, Finance, Excel, Data Analysis, Financial Statement Analysis, Financial Modeling, Budgeting, Forecasting, Power Query, Power BI, and more.
- Career Prep Financial Analyst, Project Evaluator, FP&A Manager and more
Accounting for Financial Analysts Specialization
- Skills learned Accounting, Financial Analysis, Reading Financial Statements and more
- Career prep Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Corporate Development, Investment Banking, Private Equity, Equity Research, and more.
What Our Members Say
Informative, and Flexible
Alvin Mugisha
First certificate and a great experience
The course materials were very explanatory & educating. Also the instructor was very knowledgeable.
Farrokh Golpour
YOU PEOPLE HAVE BEEN A BLESSING TO MY LIFE
THANKYOU FOR ADDING MORE VALUE UNTO ME
JOANNE PRECIOUS NAMUYINGO
My first learning experience with CFI
It is very user-friendly to go through the CFI interface. The course materials are well presented.
Audrey Carrel Manga Ondoua
Detail Explanation, Enough Example
There might be better if the questions or exercise has two levels of difficulty. One is easy and one is harder where we need to think more to solve :)
Jovi Abelpiero
Useful content delivered professionally
Feels like you're in a lecture. Great recap for me.
Rufaro Munzara
Great refresher on financial analysis!
The course could not be more precise and practical.
Ricardo Delgado
Very Insightful
The course is engaging.
Felix Odhiambo holder of ID Number 37164048
Very well structured
The course material is relevant to the field of finance and is explained in a clear, concise fashion by the instructors. The inclusion of Excel examples is eye opening.
Phakamile Ngcobo
Starting from basic analysis, all the way to make a robust pyramid analysis is one of the most fun procedures of learning I had since my birth.
Omar Almuzaini
Well organized, lucidly explained. I am totally impressed. Keep up the good work!
Ali Lone
Interesting
I really like the content and how the program is structured, highly recommended
Victor de Gregorio Sanchez
Kindly create mobile app
Sadanand Maheshwaram
Great Experience
Comprehensive view of the fundamentals of financial analysis
Nick Chandler
Very helpful to serious learners who are already working adults
CFI is one of the rare places where I can get to learn the knowledge required in the working environment, and probably the only one that offers this kind of program on-demand.
Loh Ting Cheong Andrew
Financial Fundamentals Analysis
It was a lot of information and well done!
Benson Yoder
Its a well engaging platform
grab your mind at one place and get going with CFI Study Material
Yogita Sangtani
Well-structured course
Extremely well-structured course that beats the learning offered by degree courses.
Dhiraj Sharma
Great job! Thank you
Nader Elsayed Elsayed Eldeeb
Good Overview
Great use of the DuPont Analysis System
Daniil Ostroumov
its really great experience .good job CFI team
Mohamed Kaabi
Awesome and Helpful Courses
CFI curriculum is helping me a lot to enhance my knowledge in Finance and accounting. Can't wait to continue my learning journey until finish
Arvin winatha
Excellent Course
Very informative and well structured.
Brian Gordon
Just WOW. Simplicity is the Ultimate Sophistication.
Tebatso Godwin Jokonya
Straightforward and informative
Quick and simple, easy to understand
Wing Hei Chan
Frequently Asked Questions
If you haven’t found your answer from our FAQ, please send us a message.
What are the requirements to take the courses?
All of our certification programs are open to students and professionals in various industries and levels of experience. Our curriculum is designed to teach what you need to know from basic fundamentals to advanced practical case studies. To take the courses and complete the exercises, students will only need access to a PC and/or Mac, Microsoft Suite (2016 or newer), and a stable internet connection. Click here to view the Technical Requirements
Can I download the Excel files and financial modeling templates for the course?
Absolutely! All the files and templates needed in a course are available for download. Just look for a module that shows Downloadable Files within the course dashboard. See here for a visual guide on how to do this.
How long do I have to complete the courses?
You will have yearly access to the courses as long as you maintain an active subscription. All the courses are self-paced as well so you can take your time in learning without worrying about any deadlines. Click here to compare our available enrollment options.
Are CFI courses officially accredited?
Yes, CFI is accredited by the Better Business Bureau® (BBB) to maintain training standards, the CPA Institutions in Canada, and the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) in the USA. Most of our courses qualify for verified CPE credits for CPA charter holders. Please refer to this page to view all available CPE credits.
Are there any additional fees or costs?
None! The bundle price includes everything and there are no additional fees or charges to earn your digital certification. You can see our enrollment fees listed here.
What currency are your courses priced in?
All our online courses are priced in USD. As this is a recurring payment, we accept all major credit and debit cards including Visa, MasterCard, and American Express.
How do I earn my certificates?
Students must complete all the video lessons, quizzes, and final assessments in each course. You can retake the assessments as many times as necessary until you reach an 80% passing grade. For more information on how to earn a course certificate, click HERE.
How are the exams conducted?
Students are required to complete an online assessment (Multiple choice questions, Fill-in-the-Blanks, and Excel Questions) at the end of each course. You can take the exams on your own schedule and will need to earn at least 80% to pass the course and earn your certificate of course completion. Please note that course exams can be repeated as many times as you need. Students are also required to complete the FMVA® final exam to earn their certification. How to Take a Qualified Assessment
Can I email the instructor if I have questions?
While the courses are designed mainly for self-study, we are happy to provide email assistance for general or technical support inquiries. The Full Immersion bundles include a premium email support function that allows you to communicate directly with in-house experts regarding course content. This is one of the key features that sets the Full Immersion bundle apart and makes it a worthwhile upgrade over the more affordable self-study bundle. You can compare more features in our bundles here.
Will these courses help me advance my career?
Based on hundreds of reviews from thousands of students we know how CFI courses have helped so many people advance their finance careers. Our courses are designed to be extremely practical and simulate the experience of being trained as a professional financial analyst…the ultimate way to advance your career. For real-world examples and to help delve even deeper into the course concepts, please look into our free career resources library.
More Questions?
You can view more detailed information through our Help Center or Email us and we'll be happy to answer any of your questions