A STUDY ON FINANCIAL ANALYSIS WITH REFERENCE TO CEMENT SECTOR FOR PAST FIVE YEARS

The term ‘financial performance analysis also known as analysis and interpretation of financial statements’, refers to the process of determining financial strength and weaknesses of the firm by establishing strategic relationship between the items of the balance sheet, profit and loss account and other operative data. “Financial performance analysis is a process of evaluating the relationship between component parts of a financial statement to obtain a better understanding of a firm’s position and performance. The purpose of financial analysis is to diagnose the information contained in financial statements so as to judge the profitability and financial soundness of the firm. A financial analyst analyses the financial statements with various tools of analysis before commenting upon the financial health or weaknesses of an enterprise. The analysis and interpretation of financial statements is essential to bring out the mystery behind the figures in financial statements. Financial statements analysis is an attempt to determine the significance and meaning of the financial statement data so that forecast may be made of the future earnings, ability to pay interest and debt maturities (both current and long term) and profitability of a sound divided policy. Financial performance refers to the act of performing financial activity. In broader sense, financial performance refers to the degree to which financial objectives being or has been accomplished. It is the process of measuring the results of a firm's policies and operations in monetary terms. It is used to measure firm's overall financial health over a given period of time and can also be used to compare similar firms across the same industry or to compare industries or sectors in aggregation. In short, the firm itself as well as various interested groups such as managers, shareholders, creditors, tax authorities, and others. Ratio analysis is a technique of analysis and interpretation of financial statement. It is the process of establishing and interpreting various ratios for helping in making certain decisions. It is the only means of better understanding of financial strengths and weakness of a firm. There are various ratios which can be calculated from the information given in the financial statements, but in the study we select the appropriate data and calculate only a few appropriate ratios. The important ratios taken are liquidity ratio, long term solvency activity and profitability ratios.