This course helps students understand how firms communicate through financial statements. They learn how to:

• use financial statement analysis as an integral part of the strategic analysis of firms;
• interpret financial statements, analyze cash flows, make judgments about earnings quality and uncover hidden assets and liabilities;
• apply financial statement analysis prospectively to forecast and value firms by applying modern accounting-based technologies.

Students are also exposed to the latest academic research on fundamental analysis. The course has a very practical emphasis, with a wide variety of cases, in-class exercises and a group project, all involving comprehensive analyses of publicly traded companies.

Amir Ziv

Professor of Professional Practice

Professor Ziv stepped down in 2013 from the Vice Dean position at Columbia Business School and became a Professor of Professional Practice.  As a Vice Dean, among other responsibilities, he was overseeing Admission, MBA Students Affairs, EMBA, Career Management and the Samberg Institute for Teaching Excellence.  Before rejoining Columbia Business School as a Vice Dean, Professor Ziv served on the faculties of Yale...

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