Instructional goals
This course focuses on financial statement analysis, which allows for performing a firm's fundamental analysis. Fundamental analysis is a method of measuring a security's intrinsic value by examining related economic and financial factors.
Prerequisites
Students should have a good understanding of financial accounting and related statements: balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow.
Intended learning outcomes
By the end of the course, you should have a basic understanding of how to (1) read and reclassify financial statements; (2) analyze financial statements and interpret ratios, and then assess firm performance; (3) perform firm valuation and forecasting.
Course Contents
The course focuses on the following topics:
• Introduction to financial statements and valuation;
• The reformulation and analysis of shareholders' equity, balance sheet, income statement and cash flow;
• The analysis of profitability and credit risk;
• Valuation methods;
• Valuing intangible assets;
• Accounting quality;
• Measuring corporate social performance.
Reference Books
Financial Statement Analysis and Security Valuation–by Stephen N. Penman, Fifth Edition, McGraw Hill International Edition; ISBN: 978-007-132640-7.
Financial Statement Analysis for Value Investing
Stephen Penman and Peter F. Pope
Columbia Business School Publishing
PUB DATE: April 2025
ISBN: 9780231215688
Teaching Methods
Teaching and learning consist of the following: (1) in-class activities: lectures, exercises, and case discussions; and (2) out-of-class activities, including independent reading of the textbook, exercises, and case preparation.
Assessment Method
The student evaluation system adopted by the Graduate School
consists of continuous assessment, designed to monitor
progressive learning during the semester, and a final exam.
Students are evaluated based on 31 points as it follows:
i) Class participation 5%
ii) Team project work 25%
iii) Final exam 70%
Thesis assignment criteria
sent an email to get the ""Thesis Request and Development Guidelines"
Week 1
Introduction to Financial Statements and Valuation
Week 2
The Analysis of Shareholders' Equity, Balance Sheet and Income Statement, and their reformulation
Week 3
The Cash Flow and its reformulation
Week 4
The Analysis of Profitability and Credit Risk
Week 5
Valuation Methods
Week 6
Valuation Methods
Week 7
Measuring Corporate Social Performance
Week 8
Valuing Intangible Assets
Week 9
Accounting Quality
Week 10
Exercises and Mock Exam
Week 11
Team project work presentation
Week 12
Team project work presentation