Difference between revisions of "Financial Ratios"

From Open Risk Manual
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== Motivation ==
 
== Motivation ==
The key desired objective and benefit of using a ''ratio'' instead of the underlying absolute measurements, values or metrics is to obtain a ''scale independent metric''. That means an indicator that does not depend explicitly on the size of an entity (where size can be any indicator such as turnover, number of employees etc). This allows for sharper insights into the state of an entity and its profile in relation to peers.
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The key desired objective and benefit of using a ''ratio'' instead of the underlying absolute measurements, values or metrics is to obtain a ''scale independent metric''. That means an indicator that does not depend explicitly on the size of an entity (where size can be any relevant indicator such as turnover, number of employees etc). This allows for sharper insights into the state of an entity and its profile in relation to peers.
  
 
== Usage ==
 
== Usage ==
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* [[Capital Ratio | Capital ratios]] capturing an entity's [[Capital Structure]] and in particular [[Leverage]]
 
* [[Capital Ratio | Capital ratios]] capturing an entity's [[Capital Structure]] and in particular [[Leverage]]
 
* [[Liquidity Ratio | Liquidity ratios]] capturing an entity's [[Liquidity]] profile
 
* [[Liquidity Ratio | Liquidity ratios]] capturing an entity's [[Liquidity]] profile
 
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* Profitability ratios
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* Activity ratios
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* Sustainability ratios (such as the [[Green Asset Ratio]])
  
 
== List of Financial Ratios ==
 
== List of Financial Ratios ==
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* [[Debt To Equity Ratio]]
 
* [[Debt To Equity Ratio]]
 
* [[Loan To Value Ratio]] (LTV)
 
* [[Loan To Value Ratio]] (LTV)
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== Issues and Challenges ==
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* Being based solely on financial statements, ratios are subject to all issues that can affect the completeness, credibility, consistency and comparability of such figures
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* Different ratios can be highly correlated
  
 
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[[Category:Financial Ratio]]
 
[[Category:Financial Ratio]]

Revision as of 10:31, 15 April 2021

Definition

Financial Ratios are derived measures (ratios) capturing the economic and financial condition of an entity starting from more primary financial inputs (e.g. from Financial Statements, balance sheets or other formal representations).

Motivation

The key desired objective and benefit of using a ratio instead of the underlying absolute measurements, values or metrics is to obtain a scale independent metric. That means an indicator that does not depend explicitly on the size of an entity (where size can be any relevant indicator such as turnover, number of employees etc). This allows for sharper insights into the state of an entity and its profile in relation to peers.

Usage

Ratios are used widely in financial analysis of companies, valuations, also in the Risk Analysis of Credit Risk

Types

List of Financial Ratios

Issues and Challenges

  • Being based solely on financial statements, ratios are subject to all issues that can affect the completeness, credibility, consistency and comparability of such figures
  • Different ratios can be highly correlated