Magnimetrics Library

Financial Analysis

Practical guides that help finance professionals turn financial data into better decisions. Explore cash flow, budgeting, forecasting, working capital, valuation, reporting, financial modeling, and downloadable examples.

122 articles
Financial Analysis

How to Calculate the Beta of a Company

Beta is a risk-reward measure from fundamental analysis to determine the volatility of an asset compared to the overall market. We consider the market to have a beta of one. Then all assets are ranked based on their deviation from the market. If an asset’s returns fluctuate more than the market, then this asset has […]

Financial Analysis

Black-Scholes Model: First Steps

Today we take a look at the most popular options pricing model. The Black Scholes Model, also known as the Black-Scholes-Merton method, is a mathematical model for pricing option contracts. It works by estimating the variation in financial instruments. The technique relies on the assumption that prices follow a lognormal distribution. Based on this, it […]

Financial Analysis

Sharpe Ratio and Risk-Adjusted Returns

In finance, one of the popular methods to adjust return rates of investments for risk is the Sharpe Ratio. William F. Sharpe developed the ratio in 1966 and revised it in 1994 to arrive at the formula we use today. Originally he called it the ‘reward-to-variability’ ratio. Later on, finance professionals started referring to it […]

Financial Analysis

Optimal Portfolios and the Efficient Frontier

There’s a widespread assumption in investing that more risk equals increased potential returns. The theory behind the Efficient Frontier and Optimal Portfolios states that there’s an optimal combination of risk and return. The theory relies on the assumption that investors prefer portfolios that generate the most substantial possible return with the least amount of involved […]

Financial Analysis

Understanding the Binomial Option Pricing Model

The Binomial Option Pricing Model is a risk-neutral method for valuing path-dependent options (e.g., American options). It is a popular tool for stock options evaluation, and investors use the model to evaluate the right to buy or sell at specific prices over time. Under this model, the current value of an option is equal to […]

Financial Analysis

Calculate Value in Use under IAS 36

The core underlying principle of IAS 36 Impairment of Assets is that an asset’s carrying value in the financial statements of the company should not exceed the highest amount the business can recover through its use or sale. The standard applies to all assets for which there are no impairment considerations elsewhere. As an example, […]

Financial Analysis

Introduction to Probability Distributions in Financial Modeling

In one of our recent articles, we looked into how to set up and run Monte Carlo Simulations in Excel. And we looked at some of the most common probability distributions, which we can apply to illustrate the uncertainty of our model’s variables. When we work on a financial model, we face issues with variables […]

Financial Analysis

Rolling Forecasts in Financial Planning

Let’s start by looking at why businesses need rolling forecasts. When running a business, we need to have a full view of what’s happening so that we can make the proper decisions. The best way to achieve this is to implement a budgeting and planning process. We create an expected standard performance for the business […]

Financial Analysis

Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC) Case Study: Amazon (AMZN)

With a reach in e-commerce, cloud computing, digital streaming, and artificial intelligence, Amazon is now one of the largest corporations in the world. Analysts often refer to it as one of the most influential economic forces in the world. Alongside Google, Microsoft, and Apple, Amazon is considered one of the Big Four tech companies. In […]

Financial Analysis

Monte Carlo Simulation in Financial Modeling

Whenever we are constructing a financial model, we rely heavily on assumptions. Some, if not all, of those assumptions, have the associated uncertainty and inherent risk. Not being able to predict the future makes it harder to solve and model the probability of different outcomes from our financial models. In such situations, we can apply […]