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Common‐Size Analysis

Common-size analysis (also called vertical analysis) expresses each line item on a single year's financial statement as a percent of one line item, which is referred to as a base amount. The base amount for the balance sheet is usually total assets (which is the same number as total liabilities plus stockholders' equity), and for the income statement it is usually net sales or revenues. By comparing two or more years of common-size statements, changes in the mixture of assets, liabilities, and equity become evident. On the income statement, changes in the mix of revenues and in the spending for different types of expenses can be identified.

A common-size analysis for the latest two years of The Home Project Company is shown in the following example. To calculate the common-size for the 20X1 balance sheet, each amount was divided by $114,538, the “total asset” amount. For the 20X0 balance sheet, the common-size percentages were calculated by dividing by $118,732, “total assets.” For the 20X1 income statement, each amount was divided by $129,000 the “sales, net” amount, and for the 20X0 income statement, each amount was divided by $97,000, the “sales, net” amount.

Calculation of Common-Size Analysis

20X1

20X0

Amount

Percent

Amount

Percent

Balance Sheet

Assets

Current Assets

Cash

$ 6,950

6.1

$ 6,330

5.3

Accounts receivable, net

18,567

16.2

19,230

16.2

Inventory

12,309

10.7

12,202

10.3

Prepaid expense

540

.5

532

.4

Total current assets

38,366

33.5

38,294

32.2

Property, plant & equipment, net

74,422

65.0

78,938

66.5

Other assets

1,750

1.5

1,500

1.3

Total assets

$114,538

100.0

$118,732

100.0

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

Current Liabilities

Accounts payable

$ 15,560

13.6

$ 16,987

14.3

Salaries payable

9,995

8.7

9,675

8.1

Accrued expenses

2,390

2.1

3,685

3.1

Total current liabilities

27,945

24.4

30,347

25.5

Long-term debt

15,000

13.1

23,000

19.4

Stockholders' equity

71,593

62.5

65,385

55.1

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

$114,538

100.0

$118,732

100.0

Income Statement

Sales, net

$129,000

100.0

$ 97,000

100.0

Cost of goods sold

70,950

55.0

59,740

61.6

Gross profit

58,050

45.0

37,260

38.4

Operating expenses

42,600

33.0

38,055

39.2

Operating income

15,450

12.0

(795)

(.8)

Interest expense

1,900

1.5

1,500

1.5

Income before income taxes

13,550

10.5

(2,295)

(2.3)

Income tax expense (benefit)

5,420

4.2

(895)

.9

Net income(loss)

$ 8,130

6.3

$(1,400)

(1.4)

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