Question

Ratio Analysis

Ratio analysis is an important component of evaluating company performance. It can provide great insights into how a company matches up against itself over time and against other players within the industry.

However, like many tools and techniques, ratio analysis has a few limitations and weaknesses.

Which of the following statements represent a weakness or limitation of ratio analysis? Check all that apply.


Different firms may use different accounting practices.

A firm’s financial statements show only one period of financial data.

A firm may operate in multiple industries.


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Answer #1

Different firms may use different accounting practices.

A firm’s financial statements show only one period of financial data.

A firm may operate in multiple industries.


answered by: Hauser

> Different firms may use different accounting practices. and
A firm may operate in multiple industries.

Hauser Tue, Sep 7, 2021 2:20 PM

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Answer #2

The fact that different firms may use different accounting practices can distort ratios, making it difficult to compare firms that employ different accounting practices. Although this is a serious problem when trying to compare firms, you can minimize it by conducting an accounting quality analysis prior to ratio analysis in which you normalize the firm’s accounting procedures and then recalculate financial statement figures under those common accounting methods.

When a firm operates in multiple industries, analysts conducting a ratio analysis must determine which industry to compare the firm’s numbers with. This is an inherent weakness in ratio analysis, because it relies to some degree on the user’s ability to compare data between multiple firms operating in the same line of business or a similar business.

It is normal for a firm’s financial statements to show only one period of financial performance. This normal practice does not represent a weakness or limitation of ratio analysis.


answered by: Hauser
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