Depreciation (Business)

EBITDA

Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization, a metric used to evaluate a company's operating performance by removing the effects of financing decisions, tax strategies, and non-cash accounting charges. EBITDA provides a clearer view of a company's core operational profitability and is widely used to compare businesses across industries and capital structures. However, critics note that EBITDA can be misleading because it excludes real costs that affect a company's financial health.

Income Statement

A financial statement that summarizes a company's revenues, costs, and expenses over a specific period, ultimately showing whether the business made a profit or loss. Also known as a profit and loss (P&L) statement, it is one of the three core financial statements used to evaluate a company's performance. The income statement helps business owners and investors understand where money is coming from and where it is being spent.

Balance Sheet

A financial statement that provides a snapshot of a company's financial position at a specific point in time, showing what the business owns (assets), what it owes (liabilities), and the owners' equity. The fundamental accounting equation states that assets must always equal liabilities plus equity. Reviewing a balance sheet helps investors and business owners assess the company's financial health, liquidity, and ability to meet its obligations.

Operating Expenses

The ongoing costs a business incurs through its normal day-to-day operations, not including the direct costs of producing goods or services. Operating expenses include items like rent, salaries, utilities, marketing, insurance, and office supplies. Keeping operating expenses under control is essential for profitability, and the ratio of operating expenses to revenue is a key indicator of a company's operational efficiency.