Guides to company filings and financials
Nine guides to filings, cash flow, debt, periods and comparisons, with worked examples and a hands-on number lab.
New to filings?
Start with these three steps.
Find the context, work through the numbers,
then return to the source to check your reading.
Find the question you have in mind
Five checks before reading a company filing
A practical path from a filing date to the period, report type, financial scope and subsequent amendments.
Read guideRevenue grew. Why might profit fall?
A worked example of revenue growth and operating margin, with a separate check for cash flow.
Read guideBefore comparing Korean and US companies
Build a comparison that respects currencies, fiscal calendars and accounting scope.
Read guideProfitable, but running short of cash?
Trace the gap between profit and cash, then separate operating, investing and financing flows.
Read guideHow much does a debt figure really tell you?
Work through assets, liabilities and equity, then test what leverage and liquidity ratios leave out.
Read guideQuarterly, year-to-date or annual?
Derive a standalone quarter from cumulative figures and distinguish year-over-year from sequential comparisons.
Read guideConsolidated and separate: two views of a company
Use an internal-sales example to understand scope, then distinguish total group profit from profit attributable to owners.
Read guideAmendments, one-off items and adjusted earnings
Keep a revision trail and reconcile company-adjusted measures to reported figures.
Read guideWhat sits behind the group revenue number?
Examine segment growth, sales mix and eliminations without mistaking a business-unit measure for the group total.
Read guideChange the numbers. See the difference.
Growing revenue does not necessarily mean a higher margin. Enter fictional amounts in the same unit and compare the two measures.
Read the worked example →Fictional practice values, not reported results. Calculations stay in this browser.
A quick reference while you read
Revenue
Recognized sales or revenue; its timing can differ from cash receipts.
See the worked example →Operating margin
Operating income divided by revenue, used alongside the sales amount.
See the worked example →Cash flow
Cash movements during a period, separated by operating, investing and financing activities.
See the worked example →Liabilities and borrowings
Liabilities can extend beyond borrowings. Check the numerator of a leverage ratio.
See the worked example →Consolidation
A group view that includes adjustments for transactions within the group.
See the worked example →Year-over-year / YoY
A comparison with the matching prior-year period, distinct from quarter-over-quarter growth.
See the worked example →Percent and percentage points
A move from 10% to 7.5% is −2.5 percentage points, or a relative change of −25%.
See the worked example →Adjusted earnings
A company-defined measure to read alongside reported earnings and its reconciliation.
See the worked example →Common points of confusion
Why did a new filing leave annual revenue unchanged?
Recent filings include quarterly reports and current-event disclosures. The annual table remains tied to annual reporting periods.
Does a dash mean zero?
No. It indicates unavailable data or an unsupported comparison. Do not fill a missing amount with zero to calculate growth.
Are the worked examples actual company results?
Calculation tables and the number lab are labelled as fictional examples. Actual profiles show reporting periods, currencies and source links.
Where can I use these guides?
Open a source filing from a company profile and follow a guide’s checks. Cash flow, balance sheet and segment details currently require the original statements and notes.