Linking Three Financial Statements - Example (2024)

How are the three Financial Statements Linked?

The three financial statements are the Income Statement (IS), Balance Sheet (BS), and Cash Flow Statement (CFS). Understanding the links between them is important for building models, and is a classic interview question in financial services.

So how to understand the links? Firstly, the IS lists sales for a period. But not all of them are cash sales. So the CFS takes the IS non-cash flows and converts them into cash flows. This difference in preparation – the IS is not prepared on a cash basis, but the CFS is – creates many links between the 2 statements.

Secondly, the BS tells us the company’s assets, liabilities, and equity, and again is prepared using differing accounting principles to the IS and CFS. In its most simple form, the CFS goes looking for cash flow changes in the BS, and the IS explains some of the changes in the BS. To go through every link would fill a library of books (we’d love to do this), but here we shortlist the major links.

Linking Three Financial Statements - Example (1)

Key Learning Points

The major links in the three financial statements are:

  • Net income from the IS links to the BS (retained earnings) and the CFS operating section
  • Property, plant and equipment in the BS creates depreciation in the IS and the CFS operating section, and also creates capital expenditure in the CFS investing section
  • Changes in current assets and liabilities from the BS are aggregated to calculate Operating Working Capital (OWC) in the CFS operating section.
  • Debt in the BS leads to interest expense in the IS, and debt issuance/repayment in the CFS financing section
  • Ending cash in the CFS is what drives cash in the BS

Why Analyze Financial Statements

Net Income and Depreciation

The IS reports all sales and costs for the period, but not all of them are cash flows. So the first line in a CFS is net income from the IS, and then the CFS adjusts it to create cash flows. The best example of this adjustment is depreciation. Depreciation is a cost in the IS, but it is not a real cash flow, so the CFS adds it back to net income to pretend it didn’t happen.

Linking Three Financial Statements - Example (2)

Net Income and Retained Earnings

Net income can be paid out as dividends to shareholders, but can also be retained and kept by company. This retained net income is still owed to equity shareholders (“hey, where did my dividends go?”), so it goes in retained earnings in the equity section of the BS.

Linking Three Financial Statements - Example (3)

PP&E, capex and depreciation

PP&E (property, plant and equipment) is an asset in the BS, but as it is used up during the period it depreciates, and that depreciation cost goes in the IS.

Also, as PP&E goes up on the BS due to capex (capital expenditure), that capex is also a cash flow, which appears in the CFS.

Linking Three Financial Statements - Example (4)

Operating Working Capital

The CFS goes looking for any cash flows it can find in the IS and BS. Changes in OWC in the BS are one of those cash flows. If inventory goes up on the BS, cash goes out on the CFS. If accounts receivable goes down on the BS, cash comes in from customers on the CFS. These are summed up as “Changes in OWC” on the CFS.

Linking Three Financial Statements - Example (5)

Debt

Debt is on the BS, and companies have to pay interest on that debt. This interest cost goes on the IS.

Also, as debt is issued or repaid, the cash in or out flow appears in the CFS.

Linking Three Financial Statements - Example (6)

Cash

The CFS sums up all cash in and out flows for the year, and calculates the ending cash figure. This then goes in the assets section of the BS.

Linking Three Financial Statements - Example (7)

Free Download

The free download shows a three-statement financial model with the links between the statements color-coded for ease of reference.

Additional Resources

Balancing a Three-Statement Model

Debt Schedule

Investment Banking Courses

Linking Three Financial Statements - Example (2024)

FAQs

How to answer how are the three financial statements linked? ›

Net income from the bottom of the income statement links to the balance sheet and cash flow statement. On the balance sheet, it feeds into retained earnings and on the cash flow statement, it is the starting point for the cash from operations section.

What are example 3 financial statements? ›

The income statement, balance sheet, and statement of cash flows are required financial statements. These three statements are informative tools that traders can use to analyze a company's financial strength and provide a quick picture of a company's financial health and underlying value.

What are the links between the three financial statements? ›

The major links in the three financial statements are: Net income from the IS links to the BS (retained earnings) and the CFS operating section. Property, plant and equipment in the BS creates depreciation in the IS and the CFS operating section, and also creates capital expenditure in the CFS investing section.

What is a 3-way financial model? ›

A three-way forecast, also known as the 3 financial statements is a financial model combining three key reports into one consolidated forecast. It links your Profit & Loss (income statement), balance sheet and cashflow projections together so you can forecast your future cash position and financial health.

How do the three statements link together in an interview answer? ›

Here is a good answer for an interview situation: Net income from the income statement flows to the balance sheet and cash flow statement. The cash flow statement adjusts net income with operating, investing and financing cash flows.

What questions do the three main financial statements answer? ›

The income statement illustrates the profitability of a company under accrual accounting rules. The balance sheet shows a company's assets, liabilities, and shareholders' equity at a particular point in time. The cash flow statement shows cash movements from operating, investing, and financing activities.

What is the relationship between balance sheet and profit and loss account? ›

The Balance Sheet reveals the entity's financial position, whereas the Profit and Loss account discloses the entity's financial performance. A Balance Sheet gives an overview of the assets, equity, and liabilities of the company, but the Profit and Loss Account is a depiction of the entity's revenue and expenses.

How are the three financial statements linked in Quizlet? ›

How are the three financial statements linked? The Income Statement is linked to the Balance Sheet and Statement of Cash Flows through Net Income. Net Income flows to the Balance Sheet through the Retained Earnings account within Shareholders' Equity.

What are the three main financial statements explained? ›

The three main types of financial statements are the balance sheet, the income statement, and the cash flow statement. These three statements together show the assets and liabilities of a business, its revenues, and costs, as well as its cash flows from operating, investing, and financing activities.

How long should a 3-statement model take? ›

The “strict time limit” could be anything from 30 minutes to 3-4 hours, and the complexity increases as the time limit increases. The “no strict time limit” type might give you several days or even 1 week+. There is still a deadline, but you don't need to rush around like a madman to finish.

What is the three financial statement exercise? ›

A three-statement model combines the three core financial statements (the income statement, the balance sheet, and the cash flow statement) into one fully dynamic model to forecast future results. The model is built by first entering and analyzing historical results.

How are the balance sheet and income statement connected? ›

The balance sheet shows the cumulative effect of the income statement over time. It is just like your bank balance. Your bank balance is the sum of all the deposits and withdrawals you have made. When the company earns money and keeps it, it gets added to the balance sheet.

How are the balance sheet and cash flow statement connected? ›

The cash flow statement shows the cash inflows and outflows for a company during a period. In other words, the balance sheet shows the assets and liabilities that result, in part, from the activities on the cash flow statement.

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