What is ratio analysis used for?

Ratio analysis is primarily used for measuring the relationship between financial statement amounts. This method allows analysts and stakeholders to evaluate different aspects of a company's financial health by comparing various financial metrics to derive meaningful insights. For instance, ratios can highlight profitability, leverage, liquidity, and efficiency, providing glimpses into how well a firm is performing in relation to its financial structure and operational efficiency. By utilizing ratios, users can quickly ascertain trends, make comparisons across time periods, or benchmark against industry standards.

While profitability comparisons to competitors, assessing historical performance, and analyzing cash flow statements are valuable aspects of financial analysis, they do not encapsulate the primary function of ratio analysis, which is fundamentally about the interrelationship of amounts reported in the financial statements.