Comprehensive Guide on How to Read a Financial Report, + Website

JOHN A. TRACY is a successful financial accounting author. In addition to all eight editions of this book, he is the author of a number of books including the best-selling Accounting For Dummies. TAGE C. TRACY heads a consulting firm specializing in providing executive-level financial and accounting management resources on a project and/or interim basis. He has worked with companies in an array of industries ranging from web-based technology/solutions to manufacturing to retail to professional service organizations and finance. In addition, Tage has co-authored Cash Flow For Dummies and Small Business Financial Management Kit For Dummies with his father.

• List of Exhibits ixPreface xvPart One—Financial Report Fundamentals1 Financial Statement Basics: The Real Meat and Potatoes of Financial Reports 32 Starting with Cash Flows 133 Mastering the Balance Sheet 214 Understanding Profit 315 Profit isn’t Everything and All Things 43Part Two—Working Capital Connections6 Our Case Study—Company Introductions 557 Sales Revenue, Trade Accounts Receivable, and Deferred Revenue 658 Cost(s) of Goods Sold Expense and Inventory 779 Inventory and Accounts Payable 8910 Operating Expenses and Accounts Payable 9911 Accruing Liabilities for Incurred but Unpaid Expenses 10912 Income Tax Expense—A Liability and Asset? 117Part Three—Financial Capital Connections and Cash Flows13 Our Case Study—Company Updates and Assessments 12914 Long-Term Assets and Depreciation, Amortization, and Other Expenses 13915 Long-Term Liabilities, Interest, and Other Expenses 15116 Net Income, Retained Earnings, Equity, and Earnings per Share (EPS) 16317 Cash Flow from Operating (Profit-Making) Activities 17318 Cash Flows from Investing and Financing Activities 183Part Four—Financial Report Analysis19 Expansion and Contraction Impacts on Cash Flow 19520 What is EBITDA and Why is it Important? 21121 Financial Statement Footnotes—The Devil’s in the Details 21722 Financial Statement Ratios—Calculating and Understanding 22923 Profit Analysis for Business Managers 24524 Our Case Study and the Moral of the Story—The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly 259Part Five—Financial Report Truthfulness25 Choosing Accounting Methods and Massaging the Numbers 27326 Audits of Financial Reports 28527 Small Business Financial Reporting 29928 Basic Questions, Basic Answers, No BS 309About the Authors 319About the Companion Website 321Index 323