How to Analyse Financial Statements: A Complete Guide
Unpack complex, corporate financial statements and become a decision-making pro with Duke University.
Duration
5 weeksWeekly study
3 hours100% online
How it works
How to Analyse Financial Statements: A Complete Guide
Break down complex financial statements into career-advancing insights
Businesses everywhere, big and small, rely on financial statements to gauge performance and drive strategic decisions. However, it’s essential you not only know how to read these statements but understand how to leverage the insights they provide.
On this five-week finance course from Duke Corporate Education, drive your organisation – and career – to the top by learning the fundamentals of financial statement analysis.
Perfect for non-financial managers, you’ll explore the key components of financial statements and develop practical skills to analyse financial data, interpret key performance indicators (KPIs), and apply insights that improve your organisation’s financial planning and performance.
Apply financial analysis to income statements
After an introduction to the course and a brief overview of financial concepts, you’ll explore income statements and the various financial metrics that help assess a company’s performance.
You’ll delve into key indicators, such as Earnings Per Share (EPS) and Return on Equity (ROE), then try your hand at analysing a sample income statement on your own.
Explore balance sheets and cash flow analysis
You’ll then dive into the components of balance sheets, including assets, liabilities, and shareholder equity while analysing key ratios to assess an organisation’s strengths and weaknesses. You’ll also explore cash flow analysis to gain insights into operational efficiency and the overall financial position of a company.
Learn with the financial experts at Duke Corporate Education
Finally, you’ll wrap up this course by bringing everything you’ve learned into one final project. You’ll be tasked to develop a financial strategy of your own for a hypothetical company, applying your learning in real time.
Syllabus
Week 1
Welcome to How to Analyse Financial Statements!
Overview and Course Introduction
In this first week, you will receive a course overview, learn about your instructor's background, and have an opportunity to introduce yourself and meet your peers.
Introduce Yourself and Meet Your Peers
Your opportunity to introduce yourself and meet your peers.
Week 2
Understanding the Income Statement
Getting Started
In this module, you'll explore how revenues, expenses, and net income reveal a company's profitability and how key metrics guide strategic decisions.
Putting it into Practice
In this section, you will begin to apply key concepts and learnings to an actual case study.
Module at a Glance
In this module, you explored the Four Cornerstones of Value Creation, focusing on spread, cash flow, expectations, and competitive advantage. Take a moment to reflect on how these concepts apply to real-world business scenarios.
Income Statement Quiz
Test your understanding of income statements, focusing on revenue, expenses, and net income to assess financial health.
Week 3
Detailed Analysis of the Balance Sheet
Getting Started
In this module, you will examine a balance sheet to understand a company’s financial stability, liquidity, and capital structure at a specific point in time, highlighting assets, liabilities, and equity.
Putting it into Practice
In this section, you will begin to apply key concepts and learnings to an actual case study.
Module at a Glance
In this module, you explored the Key Value Drivers. Take a moment to reflect on how these concepts apply to real-world business scenarios.
Balance Sheet Quiz
Test your knowledge of key concepts such as spread, cash flow, expectations, and competitive advantage. It helps reinforce your understanding of how these elements drive long-term business success.
Week 4
Exploring the Cash Cycle
Getting Started
This week, we introduce a key financial performance metric—free cash flow. This metric highlights companies that can sustain a long-term competitive advantage by funding growth and delivering value to investors.
Putting it into Practice
In this section, you will begin to apply key concepts and learnings to an actual case study.
Module at a Glance
In this module, you explored free cash flow and how the spread of a business contributes to value creation. Take a moment to reflect on how these concepts apply to real-world business scenarios.
Exploring the Cash Cycle Quiz
Test your knowledge of key concepts learnt. It helps reinforce your understanding of how these elements drive long-term business success.
Week 5
Financial Statement Analysis
Getting Started
This week, we cover key income statement and balance sheet metrics to assess financial performance and prompt deeper analysis.
Putting it into Practice
In this section, you will begin to apply key concepts and learnings to an actual case study.
Module at a Glance
This week explores financial risk and the cost of capital, defining risk as uncertainty in outcomes. It covers the importance of risk and how to measure and manage risk effectively, including strategies for clear communication.
Financial Statement Analysis Quiz
Test your understanding of key financial ratios, trends, and peer comparisons to assess a company’s financial health and competitiveness.
Course Reflection
Now that you have completed the course on How to Analyse Financial Statements, consider this opportunity to reflect on what we've learned and engage in a meaningful discussion with your peers.
When would you like to start?
Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.
Available now
Learning on this course
On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Evaluate the income statement to understand revenue, expenses, and profitability, gaining insights into a company's operational efficiency and financial health.
- Evaluate a company's balance sheet to assess its assets, liabilities, and shareholder equity, providing a snapshot of its financial position and stability.
- Explore the cash cycle stages to understand how a company manages cash flows, from financing and investing to operations, ensuring sustainability and growth.
- Compare key financial statements and performance metrics across multiple periods and industry peers to assess trends and benchmark a company’s performance.
Who is the course for?
This course is designed for non-financial managers and professionals looking to bolster their financial acumen and refine their decision-making capabilities. You’ll learn everything you need to know on this course, so no prior knowledge is needed to join.
Who will you learn with?
Part of Duke University, Duke Corporate Education (Duke CE) is the premier global provider of leadership solutions in context.
Who developed the course?
Duke Corporate Education
Duke Corporate Education was founded with the objective of combining world-class leadership science with a practitioner approach to achieve organisation and business impact.
Ways to learn | Buy this course | Subscribe & save | Limited access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Choose the best way to learn for you! | $109/one-off payment | $244.99 for a whole year Automatically renews | Free |
| Fulfill your current learning need | Develop skills to further your career | Sample the course materials | |
| Access to this course | tick | tick | Access expires 19 Feb 2025 |
| Access to 1,000+ courses | cross | tick | cross |
| Learn at your own pace | tick | tick | cross |
| Discuss your learning in comments | tick | tick | tick |
| Certificate when you're eligible | Printed and digital | Digital only | cross |
Cancel for free anytime |
Ways to learn
Choose the best way to learn for you!
Subscribe & save
$244.99 for a whole year
Automatically renews
Develop skills to further your career
- Access to this course
- Access to 1,000+ courses
- Learn at your own pace
- Discuss your learning in comments
- Digital certificate when you're eligible
Cancel for free anytime
Buy this course
$109/one-off payment
Fulfill your current learning need
- Access to this course
- Learn at your own pace
- Discuss your learning in comments
- Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible
Limited access
Free
Sample the course materials
- Access expires 19 Feb 2025
Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades) Sale price available until 3 March 2025 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply. | |||
Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)
Sale price available until 3 March 2025 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply.
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- Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores
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- Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
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Map your progress
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- Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
- Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate
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