Common Size Analysis

Horizontal- Vertical Analysis

Don't get excited ! As I stated earlier, you dont need to know how to prepare the statements we've discussed so far, just how to read, understand, and how to use them.

What Is a Common Size Financial Statement ?

Common size financial statements present financial information as a percentage of a common base figure such as total sales or total assets. This type of statement allows users to make comparisons to competitors or industry averages. Common size financial statements commonly include the income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement.

Note: While small business would normally not have a competitors financial information available since they are not required to publicly report, they can compare their results to industry averages.

Base Figure

Common Size Income Statement

This common size statement presents each item as a percentage of sales, net sales, or total revenues.

Common Size Balance Sheet

This commonstatement presents each line item as a percentage of total assets.

Common Size Cash Flow Statement

This common size statement presents each line item as a percentage of total revenue.

These statements are just a variation of the Vertical Statements presented in the previous lesson. Instead of just comparing your own results, you include your competitors or industry averages in your analysis.

How It's Used

Common size analysis is good tool for comparing companies of different sizes in the same industry. Reviewing this data can help reveal areas where your own business can possible make improvements.

While we saw in earlier lessons what a Balance Sheet and Income Statement Analysis looked like, we didn't see a Cash Flow Statement Analysis.

Now we will.

Example Cash Flow Common Statement Analysis-Indirect Method

Example Cash Flow Common Statement Analysis-Direct Method