Tier 1 · Foundations

Reading Financial Statements

The three financial statements are the foundation of every investment decision. Learn to read them fluently and you'll see what most retail traders miss.

4
Sub-Modules
8
Hours
23
Quiz Questions
4
Case Studies

Every publicly traded company tells its financial story through three interconnected statements. The income statement shows profitability, the balance sheet shows financial health, and the cash flow statement shows where money actually goes. Module 3 teaches you to read all three — and to combine them into ratios that reveal whether a stock is cheap, expensive, or fairly valued.

How the Four Sub-Modules Connect
3.1 Income Statement
3.2 Balance Sheet
3.3 Cash Flow Statement
3.4 Key Ratios
Each statement feeds the next. Ratios synthesize all three into actionable metrics. Learn them in order.
Sub-Modules
3.1

The Income Statement

Revenue, COGS, margins, operating income, net income, and EPS. Revenue recognition rules (ASC 606), GAAP vs. non-GAAP earnings, the share buyback effect, and red flags that signal manipulation.

2 Hours Beginner 6 Questions · 1 Case Study
3.2

The Balance Sheet

Assets, liabilities, and shareholders' equity. Current ratio, quick ratio, working capital, tangible book value, goodwill risks, and debt structure — the snapshot that reveals financial health.

2 Hours Beginner–Intermediate 6 Questions · 1 Case Study
3.3

The Cash Flow Statement

Operating, investing, and financing cash flows. Free cash flow, FCF per share, capital allocation analysis, the three-statement reconciliation, and why cash is the ultimate truth-teller.

2 Hours Intermediate 6 Questions · 1 Case Study
3.4

Key Ratios & Metrics

P/E, PEG, P/B, P/S, EV/EBITDA, ROE, ROA, debt/equity, FCF yield, and more. When each ratio works, when it fails, and a hands-on exercise to build your own ratio dashboard on a real company.

2 Hours Intermediate 5 Questions · 1 Case Study
By the End of Module 3, You Will Be Able To
Read an income statement and understand revenue recognition, margin trends, and GAAP vs. non-GAAP earnings
Analyze a balance sheet using current ratio, quick ratio, tangible book value, and debt metrics
Follow cash through all three sections and calculate free cash flow and FCF per share
Reconcile all three statements and understand how changes in one flow through to the others
Calculate 13 key ratios (including PEG) and know when each one fails or misleads
Spot red flags across all three statements that suggest manipulation or distress
Evaluate management's capital allocation decisions using the cash flow statement
Build a complete ratio dashboard for a real company using data from SEC EDGAR

Prerequisites

Module 2: Setting Up for Success — You should have access to SEC EDGAR and a screener (both covered in 2.4). No prior accounting knowledge is required; we teach everything from scratch.

What Comes Next

Module 4: Fundamental Analysis — Takes the financial literacy from Module 3 and applies it to valuation methods, macroeconomic analysis, and building investment theses that drive actual trading decisions.

Begin Module 3