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Financial Statements

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The four basic financial statements are very beneficial when it comes to doing research on any company. Whether the research is for purchasing stocks or just wondering how well a company has been performing. Knowing how to read and maneuver around the financial statements is a useful tool for internal users, such as managers or external users such as investors or creditors. These four financial statements include the balance sheet, income statement, statement of owner’s equity, and statement of cash flows.
Balance Sheet The balance sheet is based on the fundamental accounting model of assets = liabilities + equity. This report will show the financial position of the company at any given point in time. The assets on this report are classified as either current or fixed assets. If an asset can quickly be turned into cash it is known as a current asset. A fixed asset is classified as land, buildings, and equipment. Usually these assets are recorded at the time of cost which is often much lower than the market value. Liabilities are amounts of money that a company owes to others (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, 2007). Liabilities are classified as short-term and long-term liabilities. Short-term liabilities will include accounts payable, interest payable, and wages payable. Long-term liabilities will include loans that are owed longer than the next 12 months. Equity is listed on the report showing the amount the owner(s) or stockholders have the right to after all the creditors have been paid. For a corporation it is listed as retained earnings. The balance sheet is useful for external users when evaluating the ability of the company to meet its long-term obligations. Lenders will usually review comparative reports to view how well the company has done from year to year.
Income Statement The income statement presents the company’s

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