However, you cannot overdo it with details. Sankey chart is perfect for high level and medium level overview. So if you want to visualize income statement in a way that most closely resembles what income statement actually is, this is a way to go. It doesn’t show only the values but also how the profit is created. The power of this graph is that it shows both the profit & loss statement items and also the relationship between them. The flow concept is very natural, and even though the chart is not so widely used in practice, it is very easy to understand. Sankey diagram is my favorite chart for a high-level overview of the income statement as a whole. ? Chart #1: Sankey Diagram for Big Picture P&L Overview If you are in a hurry, you can just skim through the chart examples and strength & weakness summary that I included at the end of each chapter. All the examples below show the income statement of Alphabet Inc (holding company of Google).įor each chart, I try to explain in which situation I would use it and why. So let’s get into it, below you can find seven best charts for income statement presentation and analysis that I based on my experience and which should cover most of the situations.
You need to adjust it to the situation and your audience.
There are many ways to do it, but that does not mean you can just randomly choose one of them. If you want to share your income statement chart instead of a picture of your living room, you face similar challenges. To sum up, you need to adjust it to a particular situation and audience. Sometimes you will need a detailed picture of your new lamp or your floor pattern to share with your colleague or friend, and sometimes you will need a bird’s eye view floor plan with technical annotations for your architect or contractor. Sometimes a panoramic view of the whole room is what you need. How do you approach it? You have to make some choices about what is the purpose of your photo, what you want to focus on, and with whom you want to share it. Let’s say you want to take a picture of your living room. Do you want to share a general overview of how the company makes a profit with investors, or do you want to do detail drill down into expenses for the session with your CFO?Ĭhoosing the right profit and loss statement chart is similar to taking a picture of something to share with others. Choosing the right income statement chart to communicate your point is dependent on your specific situation, your priorities, and also your audience. There is not one single best chart or visualization to present or analyze an income statement that will cover all situations and needs.
Each chart is presented using the same real-life P&L, and I also added a summary of strengths and weaknesses at the end of each chapter. This article covers the best seven charts for income statement visualization based on my experience. Ideally, the one that will present your point to your audience in the most efficient manner. If you need to present specific insights or findings based on the income statement with others, you need to choose the best income statement chart or visualization. It shows how much profit is the company making and how this profit is created. Income statement that is also often called Profit and Loss (P&L) statement is one of the core financial reports. 7 Best Charts for Income Statement Presentation & Analysis