A method of financial statement analysis in which each entry for each of the three major categories of accounts (assets, liabilities and equities) in a balance sheet is represented as a proportion of the total account. The main advantages of analyzing a balance sheet in this manner is that the balance sheets of businesses of all sizes can easily be compared. It also makes it easy to see relative annual changes in one business.
Investopedia Says:
For example, suppose XYZ Corp. has three assets: cash and cash equivalents (worth $3 million), inventory (worth $8 million) and property (worth $9 million). If vertical analysis is used, the asset column will look like:
Cash and cash equivalents: 15%
Inventory: 40%
Property: 45%
This method of analysis contrasts with horizontal analysis, which uses one year's worth of entries as a baseline while every other year represents differences in terms of changes to that baseline.
Related Links:
Learn this easy-to-understand technique of analyzing a company's financial statements and reports. Introduction To Fundamental Analysis
Learn what it means to do your homework on a company's performance and reporting practices before investing. Advanced Financial Statement Analysis
Knowing what the company's financial statements mean will help you to anaylze your investments. Breaking Down The Balance Sheet
