37299 - Financial Analysis

Learning outcomes

The goal of this course is to provide students with an understanding of a business financial performance. Specifically, students will learn how to: - execute and interpret a business financial performance using profitability, liquidity, gearing, efficiency, working capital and cashflow ratios; - assess business operating and financial risk; - use financial analysis tools for designing benchmarking and improve a company business model.

Course contents

The role of management control systems in firm's performance management.

Business model performance and value creation

Measures of value creatin

Understanding Financial Statement

Profitability ratios and drivers of profitability

Operating and efficiency ratios

Assets management ratios

Financial policy ratios for liquidity and assets coverage analysis

Working capital management ratios

Operating, financial and overall risk assessment ratios

Benchmarking and use of financial ratios for understanding business model environment (customers, suppliers, competitors).

Readings/Bibliography

K. Palepu, P. M. Healy, E. Peek, Business Analysis and Valuation, South Western, 2010: http://www.cengagebrain.co.uk/shop/isbn/9781408017494 –Chapter 1, A framework for business analysis and valuation using financial statements (pp.3-15), Chapter 2, Strategy Analysis, (pp. 45-61), Chapter 4, Implementing Accounting Analysis (135-191) Chapter 5 Financial Analysis (pp.205-235), Chapter 6 Prospective Analysis: Forecasting (275-301),

Class material (available on course learning platform)

Teaching methods

Lectures, case studies, project work

Assessment methods

Written exam and group project work (group project work only for attending students).

Teaching tools

Powerpoint class presentations, additional information about the program, cases and problems are available in the e-learning web site

Office hours

See the website of Riccardo Silvi