Friedlob George T., Schleifer Lydia. Essentials of Financial Analysis

Wiley, 2002, 288 p.The financial analysis of companies is usually undertaken so that investors, creditors, and other stakeholders can make decisions about those companies. The focus of this book is on the financial analysis of companies that are publicly traded and therefore make public the data and information needed by stakeholders, who can then use the analytical procedures included in this book. The primary objectives in this book are to:
Provide an overview of financial statements and where and how to obtain them.
Explain how to use the information provided in annual reports and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, to examine a company’s profitability, liquidity, and solvency.
Examine various techniques for evaluating the market value of companies based on their financial reports and stock prices.
Discuss issues related to the quality of earnings and financial reporting.
Describe several ways of examining the cash flows of companies.
Describe new developments in areas like pro forma reporting, economic value added (EVA), and discounted cash flow methods.