The three basic tools of analysis are horizontal analysis vertical analysis and ratio analysis.

Horizontal Analysis

Horizontal analysis is a financial analysis technique that shows changes in the amounts of corresponding financial statement items over a period of time, aiding in the assessment of financial performance and trends.

Vertical Analysis

A financial analysis method that expresses each item in a financial statement as a percentage of a base amount, facilitating period-to-period and company-to-company comparisons.

Ratio Analysis

A technique for evaluating financial statements that expresses the relationship between selected financial statement data.