The financial model is the foundation for analyzing the future development of a business. With its help, you can assess risks, growth prospects, and the correctness of plans. To conduct an analysis of a financial model, it is necessary to understand which indicators are key and how to interpret them correctly.
ROI (Return on Investment) is one of the most well-known and widely used parameters. It helps determine how profitable the invested capital has been. The value not only reflects the efficiency of investments but also helps investors and managers understand whether their expenses will pay off.
This indicator allows you to quickly understand how effective a particular financial model is. If the ROI is above 10%, it may signal that the business is heading in the right direction. However, it is important to remember that normal values of this parameter can vary significantly for different sectors of the economy.
Why ROI is important:
Indicators of a financial model based on ROI allow for making quick and informed decisions for further steps.
NPV (Net Present Value) is a parameter often used to determine the profitability of investments. It measures the difference between the present value of future cash flows and initial investments. NPV takes into account the time value of money, making it much more accurate and informative than just ROI.
The following formula is used for calculation:
where:
Calculation example: if a project involves annual cash flows of 100,000 rubles for 5 years, the discount rate is 10%, and the initial investments amount to 400,000 rubles, NPV can be calculated.
Using the formula, you can determine whether it is worth investing in a project considering the time value of money. If NPV is positive, the investment is considered profitable. This means it will generate profit. If the parameter is negative, the project will not be profitable.
IRR (Internal Rate of Return) is the percentage at which the project’s NPV is zero. This financial model indicator allows you to assess how profitable a project can be compared to other investments.
To calculate IRR, iterations are required to find the discount rate at which NPV becomes zero. The parameter can be considered as the “effective rate” for the project.
Let’s assume a project requires investments of 1,000,000 rubles and generates annual income of 300,000 rubles for 5 years. To calculate IRR, several iterations are needed to find the discount rate at which NPV equals zero. For example, if IRR is 12%, it means the project can generate a profit of 12% annually, which is quite attractive for most investors.
The payback period is the time it takes for the initial investments to be recovered by the company through generated profits. This is an important indicator of the financial model for assessing risks and planning business liquidity.
To calculate the payback period, simply divide the initial investments by the annual cash flow. For example, if a project requires investments of 500,000 rubles and generates annual profit of 100,000 rubles, the payback period will be: 500000÷100000=5 years.
This means the project will pay off in 5 years. The parameter is important for investors who want to recover their funds as quickly as possible, especially in uncertain conditions.
In addition to the main indicators, ROI, NPV, and IRR, it is important to use other metrics — profitability and liquidity ratios for analyzing the financial model. They allow you to assess the company’s ability to generate profit and promptly settle debts.
These parameters measure the profitability of the business. Among the most popular are:
These values help investors understand how effectively the organization utilizes its resources.
These parameters are necessary to assess the company’s ability to quickly settle its obligations. Among them are:
This knowledge helps understand how quickly the company can overcome financial difficulties.
Each business and project have their own characteristics, and choosing the right indicators of the financial model will help determine how profitable and promising the chosen path is. It is important to remember that no parameter works on its own. It should be analyzed in the context of other metrics and taking into account current market conditions.
Financial model indicators not only help forecast results but also make informed strategic decisions. It is important for every investor and businessman to know how to correctly calculate and interpret these metrics to minimize risks and achieve high financial results.