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INTRODUCTION Being a component of the evaluation activity, the diagnosis has assumed the emphasizing within a manner at the best correctness and completeness of the strong and weak points specific to an enterprise. The elaboration of a companys strategy is established for almost all the situations within a profound analysis of all components that are in competition towards carrying out the activities. Upon basis of a diagnosis, many elements can be identified, which might determine the increasing of a companys value or in contrary, its decreasing. Practically speaking, a prognosis of a companys progress can be accomplished, without knowing the current situation of its, fact that suggests the dependency of applying the evaluation methods based upon updating the future flows of cash or incomes specific to a pertinent diagnosis. The diagnosis has as aim the description of functionality and tendencies of evolution towards the economic bodys activity, taking into consideration the dynamic environment, where this is carrying out the activity, and also the disturbing factors, either internal or external. The diagnosis analysis might present different levels of detailing, and also might refer to different durations of time (on short, middle or long term). The objective of this paperwork is to explain the essence and real meaning of the concept of Financial Diagnosis, as well as its procedures and methods of calculation, which are related by several examples. So, similarly to the activity of the company as a social organism, the financial diagnosis involves the identification of companys disfunctionalities, the research and analysis of facts and responsibilities, the identification of the causes of the disfunctionalities, as well as the elaboration of a forecast and the recommendation of a certain therapy. This paperwork is structured in the following way: it has 2 chapters, both containing 2 paragraphs. In the first chapter (The essence and objectives of the financial diagnosis) is described the theoretical meaning of Financil diagnosis, its principles and objectives.

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So, the company is subject to a process of decision-making which ensures its regulation in order for it to function normally. In case a disturbance appears within the company, steps will be taken in way of adopting some regulatory decisions, starting from the causes. This is where the diagnosis analysis appears, with the role of identifying the causes that have offset the well being of the company. Even if the company functions normally, the diagnosis analysis can be used with the purpose of evaluating the performance of the company. The role of the financial diagnosis is to evaluate the companys financial position. Based on this diagnosis, a new strategy for maintaining and developing in the environment specific to the local economy will be elaborated. Practically, the finality of the financial diagnosis consists in offering financial information to both: those inside the company and interested parties outside the company. In the second chapter, called Methods of financial diagnosis and analysis of eneterprise, are described the main procedures and methods of financial diagnosis, like balance method, chain substitution method and absolute difference method. There are also given examples of calculation of finnan cial diagnosiss indicators,taking data from the financial reports and balance sheet of the enterprise Larsan.

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CHAPTER I:THE ESSENCE AND OBJECTIVES OF FINANCIAL DIAGNOSIS 1.1 THE SIGNIFICANCE AND FUNDAMENTALS OF FINANCIAL DIAGNOSIS The company is subject to a process of decision-making which ensures its regulation in order for it to function normally. In case a disturbance appears within the company, steps will be taken in way of adopting some regulatory decisions, starting from the causes. This is where the diagnosis analysis appears, with the role of identifying the causes that have offset the well being of the company. Even if the company functions normally, the diagnosis analysis can be used with the purpose of evaluating the performance of the company. The results of the analysis are materialized in the financial and economical diagnosis. The term diagnosis comes from the Greek diagnostikos which means able to know. The term is borrowed from medicine, meaning an activity envisaging the recognition of certain diseases, based on their symptoms, in order to discover the causes and apply therapy necessary for the healing process. Similarly to the activity of the company as a social organism, the diagnosis involves the identification of companys disfunctionalities, the research and analysis of facts and responsibilities, the identification of the causes of the disfunctionalities, as well as the elaboration of a forecast and the recommendation of a certain therapy. Performing a company diagnosis is done not only when the company is facing problems, but also when the evaluation of its performance is considered or when the company is in good health, but improvement is desired. The financial and economical diagnosis is a complex research with a view to evaluating the activity of the company, in order to elaborate some decisions allowing the improvement or the restoration of the companys performance. The diagnosis and regulatory function is explained by the fact the economical and financial diagnosis addresses and prevents the apparition of negative variations

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from the level of established goals. Also, the economical and financial diagnosis guides the investment, financing and dividend distributing decisions, elaborates financial forecasts, evaluates the expected yield, helps in continuing or initiating activities with various partners. The diagnosis is not limited to an identification of the phenomena and their interpretation, representing an objective of strategic management or of forecast management. Management specialist Peter Drucker said that an efficient leader must allocate 50% of his time for diagnosis. The financial diagnosis represents a part of the companys global diagnosis, of the comprehensive evaluation of the situation and performances of the company. Consequently, the financial diagnosis can only offer a partial and specialized look at the companys financial situation and performance, its goal being oriented on studying: the companys capacity to ensure immediate and long-term solvency, avoiding the risk of bankruptcy; the company ability of maintaining a satisfactory level of performance, considering the resources engaged in the activity, the ability to refinance the activity, to own enough resources to avoid financial risk. The financial diagnosis can arise in various situations, taking on various traits: It becomes a strategic diagnosis when it follows the companys strengths and weaknesses, both in using its economical potential and in relation to the external business environment; It is elaborated as a stock-market diagnosis when it considers the relationship of the company with the stock market, if the company is quoted on the market. The indicators supplied by the diagnosis are an important element in guiding the purchase or sale of stock, both for the company and for the other investors in the stock market: It is a valuation diagnosis when it contributes to clarifying some necessary elements for establishing the value of a company, in case of investment, mergers. The financial diagnosis can determine directly the patrimony value of the company or can supply the indicators necessary for establishing its yield value, because it allows the evaluation of the companys durable beneficiary capacity.

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When it intervenes in order to determine the difficulties a company is facing and follows its stabilization, it is a crisis diagnosis. In this case, the priority of the diagnosis is to determine if the company is capable to maintain or to regain its shortterm solvency. The diagnosis appeared out of objective needs of various users of its results, in the situation of making a decision regarding the management of the company, purchase and sale of stock, granting or refusing a loan, investments, liquidation decisions. The financial diagnosis ultimately tends to evaluate the way a company can overcome constraints regarding performance, solvency, autonomy, financial flexibility. Financial balance, which represents the companys ability to honor obligations as they reach their maturity, is of great importance in the evolution of financial analysis. The exact measurement of the results obtained and the anticipation of the companys evolution trend is a preoccupation of the financial diagnosis. If the study of performance and the analysis of the balance represent fundamental themes of the financial diagnosis, it also considers highlighting other important financial traits, such as: financial independence and financial flexibility. The financial diagnosis mainly envisages the finance and accounting function of the company, being especially oriented towards yield and risks. The financial diagnosis involves judgment upon the financial health of the company, the strengths and weaknesses of financial management through which past, present and future risks arisen from the financial situation can be estimated, following the reduction of risk and improvement of results. The financial diagnosis can be a model usable by financial consultants, but also for the internal analysis of the companys financial performance. The diagnosis must indicate the companys strengths, weaknesses and potential. The diagnosis must describe the key environment variables, which have an influence on the companys activity (demographics, economy, technology, cultural, legislation). All these factors interact. All these key variables must be analyzed upon any financial diagnosis. The general conclusions regarding the companys financial diagnosis will form a SWOT matrix.

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1.2 THE OBJECTIVES AND PRINCIPLES OF FINANCIAL DIAGNOSIS Generally, the objectives of financial diagnosis are oriented based on what is monitored within the company. Subsequently: if the companys growth is envisaged, the diagnosis is oriented towards the companys investment resources and yield. If it refers to the yield of the company, the financial diagnosis is oriented toward comparing the results obtained by the resources employed. If the companys balance is pursued, the diagnosis is oriented towards the financial structure of the company. If the company risk is pursued, the diagnosis is oriented towards the companys weaknesses, including the identification of bankruptcy risks. The objectives of financial diagnosis are subordinate to the interests of the users, the role of the financial analysis being adapted to the type of diagnosis. So, the financial diagnosis needed by the company management envisages the answer to four essential questions regarding: Growth: how the companys activity carried out throughout the examined period and what was the growth rate compared to that of the sector; Yield: whether the results obtained are proportionate with resources used and whether the growth was accompanied by a satisfactory yield; Balance: what is the financial structure of the company and whether it is balanced or not, in the context of the ratio between the capital masses for a suitable financial support; Risks: their nature, whether the company has weaknesses and whether or not there is an increased bankruptcy risk. If growth is sought after, the company is checked to see whether it has enough resources for investments and a satisfactory level of the net working capital for the current activity, without the risk of offsetting the balance of the financial structures.

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Also it is verified whether the company has a satisfactory yield to face the growth, which imposes the comparison between the results obtained and the resources employed for that purpose and the calculation of the efficiency indicators. Knowing the results and the way they were constituted and distributed between the companys stakeholders allows the evaluation of the companys performance, which is reflected in the financial balance. Firstly, it is of interest here whether the financial structures of the company are balanced, in the sense of the companys ability to deal with long and short-term commitments, which imposes the examination of the companys solvency and liquidity. Secondly, it is interesting to study the way the company is financed, which demands the knowledge of the structure of the companys capital by reporting equity to debts. By comparing the results obtained to the capital employed we have economical yield and financial yield, to which the afferent risks relate. Thirdly, we have to see whether the company was able to maintain the financial balance throughout the course of its evolution, which implies the study of the financial cash flows throughout one or more financial years. Of interest here are the new uses of the company (investments in fixed tangible or intangible assets, financial assets, reimbursement of debts) and the new resources the company held throughout the same period (self-financing or credit). The financial diagnosis arose out of objective needs of various users of its results, in the situation of making a decision regarding: patrimony and financial management of the company, buying or selling stock, granting or turning down a loan, buying or selling the company, partly or entirely, taking on investment projects, liquidation decisions. In a market economy, companies are interested in knowing the stability of their competitors, the structure of their product portfolio, their strengths and weaknesses, in order to identify the sources of competitor advantage and to better orient their own development strategy.

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By exploiting the information provided by accounting under circumstances of quality exigency imposed by international standards, the financial analysis contributes to a better exploitation of the company resources, to the strategic choice that optimizes the report between yield and risk, to the increase of efficiency in a given market environment. Traditionally speaking, the financial diagnosis envisages company performance and solvency. Solvency refers to the companys ability to honor its commitments, to pay debts as they mature. This subject is of major importance in the evolution of financial analysis. Firstly, this subject consists its first area of interest. The instruments of financial analysis were created by bankers and other creditors wanting to evaluate rigorously the risks related to a current or potential debtor. Secondly, the subject of solvency has a particular importance because the insolvent company displays a bankruptcy risk and so it is exposed to extinction. The diagnosis regarding solvency is confronted with a major difficulty. Evaluating solvency implies a forecasting process regarding the conditions under which the studied company is in the situation of handling its future maturities. The financial diagnosis must proceed to the anticipation and elaborating of forecasts regarding the evolution of the company, its financial position and its financial balance. There is the tendency of expressing doubt over the possibility of a pertinent and efficient financial diagnosis. A preoccupation of the financial diagnosis refers to the exact measurement of the results obtained in the past and in the present and in anticipating the trend of evolution in the future. An evaluation of the level, instability and evolution of the these results stems from this measurement. Once these results are established, they have to be compared to the referential levels, expressed either by the level of company activity (production or sales), or by the average value of the capital employed in order to obtain these results. Only through such a comparison can the

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company efficiency be evaluated. We can thus evaluate the companys ability to carry out activities which are profitable enough to compensate the cost of resources used and its capacity to value financial and fixed assets at its disposal. Financial autonomy represents an important objective for the company leaders. In financial terms, autonomy is evaluated firstly by studying equity, its structure and the relationships of command over the company that it can express. On the other hand, financial autonomy can be evaluated by analyzing the structure of financing. The dependency of the company on its creditors (and especially on banks) represents the essential element to be explored. The distribution of financial resources and other liabilities between own funds and various debts constitutes one of the characteristics best explaining a companys financial autonomy. The companys flexibility expresses its capacity to adapt to unforeseen transformations in its environment and within its own activity and is closely followed in all management fields. Financial flexibility is evaluated compared to the ability the company manifests in relation to the rapid mobilization of liquidities. Financial flexibility is evaluated compared to the companys ability to finance itself. And it can be related to the possibilities the company has in dividing financing needs in order to accomplish investment projects, unfolding or forecasted, and also to perform its current activity. The role of the financial diagnosis is to evaluate the companys financial position. Based on this diagnosis, a new strategy for maintaining and developing in the environment specific to the local economy will be elaborated. Practically, the finality of the financial diagnosis consists in offering financial information to both those inside the company and interested parties outside the company. In case of internal financial diagnosis, the users can be leaders, current shareholders or employees. The objective pursued in this case is to detect eventual offsets of the financial balance and to adopt new decisions for managing the company. These decisions are based on identifying the origins and causes of the

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offsets on the one hand and, on the other hand, to establish measures for fixing the offsets. Outside the company, the users can be financial analysts, potential shareholders, banks, financial companies and even the state. The objective pursued is the companys ability to generate profit, to honor long-term and short-term obligations (the companys liquidity and solvency), as well as the value of the company. In most cases, external users need a financial diagnosis either for giving the company a loan (especially banks),or for making decisions regarding investing in a companys capital (potential shareholders or other companies). Both internal and external analysis have the objective of evaluating the companys performance and the risks it deals with and closely follow: yield analysis, risk analysis and company value analysis. Elaborating the financial diagnosis has the objective of evaluating the companys financial performance at the end of the financial year. The main goals considered are: evaluating the financial results, highlighting the ways to ensure financial balance, examining the yield of the invested capital, evaluating the risks. The results of the analysis may be used as basis for making management decisions, elaborating a global strategic diagnosis, elaborating development policies. The financial diagnosis supplies information regarding: current and past performance and its perspectives, the financial position and its modification, ways to manage resources and the administrative results of the management teams, the companys ability to generate cash or equivalents of cash. Thus, the financial diagnosis becomes an indispensable instrument, capable of ensuring the identification of development opportunities, the identification of different types of risk and the optimal strategic choice. The diagnosis analysis is not limited towards radiography and appreciation of states specific to different phenomena, but also represents and organic part of the foresight management, respectively to the strategic management. As concerns the opinion of the well-known specialist Peter Drucker within the management field, an

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efficient leader sacrifices 50% of time towards the problems of the activities diagnosis. In particularly, by a diagnosis program related to a company, knowing all the chains of its activities, meaning that juridical, technical and of production, or those social (human resources) and economical-financial, etc., as well as the corresponding strong and weak points. These facts will reach the aim of emphasizing the working parameters of a company, estimating the performances and the risks specific to a future activity. Meeting the difficulties into the economic activity, registering certain negative results and crossing crisis times or the existence of a staff not enough motivated will not represent fatalities, but events that happen currently to an enterprises life. The economic-financial damaging of an enterprises activity will not be ever accomplished in a brutal way, but will be based upon the existence of certain underlying causes, which have to be met and managed very fast. Nonetheless, there will be no solution as long the managers dont know about a potential difficulty state. For this reason, the damaging will be maintained and also will grow worse along with time passing, if no interventions on time are performed, by the diagnosis of activities and through a straightening plan. The diagnosis represents a performing instrument of the precognition analysis. It assures to the decisional factors that realistic vision over the situation and over the damaging process, as well as the starting point on establishing a plan of reorganization or dissolution. The diagnosis of an enterprise, such as mentioned above, has as objective the identification of weak points of activity, in order to correct them and the strong points, in order to exploit them in achieving better results. At the same time, each enterprise looking to responds adequately to a difficult situation, has to take into consideration the fact that it progress within an environment characterized by opportunities and risks. The diagnosis of a hard-set enterprise has to appreciate the potential of the business and the benefits of which this disposes, where a fatal error might be represented by trying to recover a non-viable enterprise.

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In general the main tasks of the financial diagnosis are considered the following: Enhance the business plan scientific establishment, norms (in the process of its elaboration) to an upper level. It can be done first of all by performing a detailed analysis of the enterprises activities. During the analysis the development tendency of the analyzed unit is being showed up; and there are emphasized the main action factors. A special attention must be given to the current period analysis, which is simultaneously the period that precedes the plan. Conclusions are applied by the plans calculation. Make an objective and multilateral appreciation of business plan fulfillment based on the accounting data and reports. It studies how business plan is accomplished from the point of view of volume, structure, production quality, etc. In the production units is studying the production program fulfillment from the point of view of quantity, structure, quality, ranges, rhythmically, contract obligations accomplishment. In commercial units- a special attention is paid to the appreciation of Sales Revenue accomplishment, ranges, and its structure, elements co-reporting of goods circulation balance, customer harm quality. Appreciate the efficient usage of human resources, goods, finance (each in particular and as a whole). The production enterprises particularly study how to use efficiently the production means, human resources, financial resources on the whole (the owners or loaned). Control how the commercial calculation requirements are made. An enterprises activity in general depends a lot on the keeping of commercial calculation principles, showing thus the production relations that absolutely correspond to the relations, requirements created on the market. Emphasize and measure the internal reserves (at all stages of the production process). The reserves emphasized at each stage of production process have a real utility in analysis. A rhythmical enhancing depends directly on the fact if the intern emphasized reserves were used.

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The basic principles for evaluation of the company are: 1) The principle of anticipation: - This implies that firm value is derived from expected future benefits to be derived from possession or use of property, having regard to the state markets: international, national, regional, at a time and continue their evolution. 2) The principle of change: - This principle implies that supply and demand forces are in a continuous dynamic and constantly create an economic environment, leading to fluctuations in price and value. Under this principle, cause and effect relationship is changing in its forces influence real property value. 3) The principle of competition: - This principle implies that prices are sustained and the values are set by continuous competition and interaction between buyers and other participants in the housing market. 4) The principle of substitution: - This principle implies that a rational buyer will not pay more for a property than the cost of acquisition of other properties with similar characteristics. 5) The principle of contribution (marginal productivity): -This principle implies that the value of any factor of production or composition of the property depends on the extent to which his presence adds something to the overall value of the property. 6) The principle of best use: - This principle implies that to assess the market, the property would be assessed if the best use. 7) The principle of opportunity cost -This principle expresses the appreciation of enterprise value is determined by the buyer. The opportunity cost is measured by removing the earnings just the best option in an effort to maximize the effort.

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CHAPTER II: METHODS OF FINANCIAL DIAGNOSIS AND ENTERPRISE ANALYSIS 2.1 PROCEDURES AND METHODS OF FINANCIAL DIAGNOSIS The qualitative analysis presumes the knowledge of phenomenon nature, of its causative sides, but the quantitative one-the establishment of the elements size, of the factors that explain the phenomenon. The quantification of the factors action is possible only after the causative relations have been settled between these phenomena and factors. It means that qualitative analysis precedes the quantitative analysis. Methods of Financial Diagnosis assume to be the procedures that help us to make the analytical processing of economic information. They can be classified according to the level of Financial Diagnosis fulfillment. In this way each level uses its methods of analysis, but it is also possible to use the same methods of analysis, but it is also possible to use the same methods at different steps. In Economic and Financial Diagnosis all methods can be distinguished in two big groups: I group - methods used for preliminary study of indices or the qualitative analysis of economic results. II group - methods used to emphasize and quantificate the factors action or the quantitative analysis. Both, the qualitative and quantitative models should be used in the process of phenomena and economic result analysis. The indices preliminary studying methods are the methods used for a qualitative investigation of information, including comparison, grouping, calculation of analytical indicators, calculation of relative and average values and decomposition. Comparison takes an important place in the system of procedures used by Financial Diagnosis. It is the most frequent materialization method of the logical thinking in the financial activity research. Its main characteristics consist in studying the phenomena, processes and economic and financial results by using a certain principle and also in establishing the resemblance and differences between them.

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Thus, Financial Diagnosis has the possibility to examine and appreciate the economic results, not as a measure by itself, but regarding a certain criterion or a basis of comparison and to settle the levels, proportions and rhythms of their development. There are used different types of comparison in the activity of financial diagnosis: Comparison with planned data or another established criteria is made to appreciate the level of the plan fulfillment. The reserves obtained from the removed deviation are emphasized through it. Modifications, which have derived from this type of comparison, represent the object for the factors quantification. Comparison in time between current data and those from the last year or another past year ,taken as a basis of calculation, helps to determine the rhythms of growth of the studying phenomena and to establish the developing tendencies of the economic procedures. Also, we can calculate the rhythm of growth. Comparison in space can be made between the intern administrative departments of the enterprise and general directions with the branch average. This type of comparison is usually used in order to establish the enterprises place in the branch, to spotlight the existent reserves and to determine the following enterprises perspective of development. Comparison between effective data and economic-mathematical model is made to establish the unused reserves. Comparison with a special-character is made to determine the efficiency of some technical-economical measures or solutions. Some of indicators used in the process of financial analysis are taken from business-plan, financial and statistical reports; other are calculated supplementary in the analysis process. The system of indicators sensitively grows during the process of analysis. Usually, the analytic indicators are calculated in the percentage of plan fulfillment or in dynamic changes given to the plan. In the process of financial diagnosis there are calculated absolute and relative changes of current indicators given to the fundamental ones.

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Absolute change is calculated as a difference between the effective indicators and fundamental indicators. Relative change can be computed applying two versions of calculation. The first version is ratio between absolute change and indicators fundamental size in percents or units. And the second one can be determinate as a difference between the effective indicator and its size in a basic period, recalculated according to the rate of growth of the output. Average values calculation characterizes specific properties of the studied phenomenon. In economic practice, for example, there are calculated such values as average value of finished products stocks, annual average labor productivity; average number of employees and workers etc. These examples can be continued, because there are a huge number of average values, it is necessary to know the models of their calculation. Simple arithmetical average is used to calculate the average level of different indicators from an aggregate or in dynamics. It can be computed according to the following formula: (2.1.1) Weighted arithmetical average is calculated in order to determine the average level of an indicator taking in consideration number of elements from each group. It is computed according to the formula: (2.1.2) Geometrical average is calculated in order to determine the annual average growth of an investigated indicator, according to the next formula: (2.1.3)

Chronological average is used to calculate the average value of different indicators in dynamic, such as average of workers, average value or assets or stocks or fixed assets. It can be calculated according to the formula: (2.1.4)

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Grouping is an investigation method of analysis that is used to emphasize the relation between grouping and the resulted indicators; to study the direction of the analyzed phenomenon development. It is made in the analysis process. Some groups can be found in different reports and statements of enterprises and in special investigations. For example, assets are grouped by their terms of usage in the enterprises activity; revenues are grouped according to the types of activity; the employees can be grouped by gender, age, length of service, education etc. Division or decomposition results represent the method that studies the economic relations by penetrating in its structures and it consists in decomposing the phenomena and the explored processes in its component elements. The usage of division in financial analysis enlarges the exploration sphere till the component elements level, establishing its contribution to the total modification of the studied phenomena and placing in time and space the results and their causes of appearance. Multiplication relation represents the relation when the elements of the studied phenomenon correlate among the with the arithmetical sign of multiplication and division. In financial diagnosis the following methods are used to determine the factors influence: Balance method is the simplest method used in the factors quantification. It can be used when between the studied phenomenons elements is an additive relation. Balance method is based on the equality of two parts. Balance relations reflect the quantitative interdependence of the phenomenons elements, their analysis, allowing the evidence of causes that determined the phenomenon modification through the comparison of the effective values of balance elements with the planned values of the values of the previous year. The analytical model of this type of relations is: R=a+b-c (2.1.5) Balance method can be used in Financial Diagnosis in three cases: In the first case it is applied to calculate the influence of factors on the resulting indicator.

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In the second case balance method is used to verify the completeness and the accuracy of the factors influences calculation on the modification of the result indicator. The sum of factor action should be always equal with the absolute difference of the effective and basic values of the financial results. The absence of this equality shows that was made a mistake in the calculating process. To confirm this fact it is used the factorial balance formula, presented above: (2.1.6)

In the third case balance method is applied to establish the influence of the unknown factors. It is used when the modification of resulting indicator and the influence of the other factor are known. It can be calculated as a difference between the resulting indicator modification and the influence of the known factors. Using the factorial balance formula, the influence of the unknown factors can be computed as follows: ; ; . (2.1.7) (2.1.8) (2.1.9)

Chain substitution method is used when there are causative relations between the analyzed phenomenon and the influencing factors, expressed in all forms of the determined dependence (multiplication, division, additive and combined relations). Substitution assumes the replacement of one factors value with another one in a certain relation. The order of the factors chain can make a lot of possible variants of substitutions with different results. Using the chain substitution method, it is necessary to respect the following requirements in order to obtain indicators with a real economic contains: 1)in the causative relations factors are arranged in the following economic order: quantitative factors, structure factors and then qualitative factors;

2) the substitution is made successively, beginning with the quantitative factor and till the last factor-qualitative one;

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3) the substitute factor rests substitute till the ending, being expressed in its effective value; 4) the unsubstantiated factor is expressed in base or planned value. The essence of chain substitution method consists in the successive replacing of planned or base values of factors with their effective or current values in a certain relation, assuming that the rest of factors are factors with a permanent action at this moment, and they remain unchanged. The size and the sense of each factors influence on the financial result are obtained in a successive comparison between the second calculation and the first one, the third one and the second. The sign obtained shows the result of the factors action: positive or negative. The priorities of chain substitution method are large spread, accessible as a mathematical method; simple in usage; quality of the received answers. While disadvantages of it are: 1) The results of the calculation depend on a certain way of the substitution consequence. Sometimes it is impossible to determine the correctness of the substitution. It is more difficult when we have more factors. 2) When the level of one factors action is being appreciated, the others rest unchanged, but in reality the action of each factor is manifesting not separately but in parallel with the others. 3) The active role in the change of results action is assigned to the qualitative factor, that doesnt permit to establish objective results of economic activity. In practice when the analytical formula of the resulting indicator is presented as a multiplication the chain substitution method is not used in its classical form. It is applied with the help of different simplified forms and united by notion-varieties of chain substitution method. The most widely used varieties of chain substitution method are absolute difference method, relative difference method and recalculation indicator method.

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Absolute difference method is the most widely used varieties of chain substitution method. More frequently this method is applied in the presence of the multiplication relation between factors and resulting indicator. The influence of each factor on the economic result is determined in the same connectivity according to the rule of chain substitution method, distinguished only by the fact that the level of each factors influence is obtained after a calculus (without comparing them). 2.2 FINANCIAL DIAGNOSIS OF ENTERPRISELARSAN The diagnosis and analysis of financial situation at Larsan was performed based on financial ratios system. Financial ratios quantify many aspects of a business and are an integral part of the financial statement analysis. Financial ratios are categorized according to the financial aspect of the business which the ratio measures. Liquidity ratios measure the availability of cash to pay debt. Activity ratios measure how quickly a firm converts non-cash assets to cash assets. Debt ratios measure the firm's ability to repay longterm debt. Profitability ratios measure the firm's use of its assets and control of its expenses to generate an acceptable rate of return. Market ratios measure investor response to owning a company's stock and also the cost of issuing stock. Financial ratios allow for comparisons

between companies between industries between different time periods for one company between a single company and its industry average Ratios generally hold no meaning unless they are benchmarked against something

else, like past performance or another company. Thus, the ratios of firms in different industries, which face different risks, capital requirements, and competition are usually hard to compare.

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Profitability analysis Equity investors are concerned with the firms ability to generate, sustain and increase profits. The ability of a business to earn profit depends on the effectiveness and efficiency of its operations as well as the resources available to it. Profitability analysis, therefore, focuses primarily on the relationship between operating results as reported in the income statement and resources available to the business as reported in the balance sheet. Profitability can be measured in several different but interrelated dimensions. Major analyses used in assessing profitability include the following: Return on sales. Contribution margin. Return on assets. Return on equity. Return on sales analysis One measure of profitability is the relationship between the enterprises costs and its sales. The ability to control costs in relation to revenues enhances earnings power. A common-size income statement shows the ratio of each cost component to sales. In addition, 4 summary ratios measure the relationship between different measures of profitability and sales: 1. The gross(profit) margin captures the relationship between sales and manufacturing or merchandising costs: Gross Margin=Gross Profit/Sales*100% 2. The operating margin, calculated as: Operating Margin=Operating Profit/Sales*100% (2.2.2) (2.2.1)

3. The pretax margin is calculated prior to income taxes and the formula is: Pretax Margin=Profit before Tax/Sales*100% (2.2.3)

4. The overall (net) profit margin is after all expenses and the formula is: Profit Margin=Net Profit/Sales*100% (2.2.4)

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The four ratios listed above can be computed directly from an enterprises financial statements. These ratios can be analyzed in comparison with the previous year or planned data, using the following example. We will perform the dynamic analysis of return on sales using data from Income Statement and from Balance Sheet of the enterprise Larsan. Table 2.2.1 Dynamic analysis of return on Sales Indicators 1.Sales Revenue 2.Gross Profit 3.Operating Profit 4.Profit before taxes 5.Net Profit 6.Gross Margin 7.Operating Margin 8.Pretax Margin 9.Profit Margin Previous year 18491.0 5580.7 2216.7 2374.5 2163.3 30.18 11.99 12.84 11.70 Actual reporting year 21835.2 5814.9 2059.9 2431.9 1930.4 26.63 9.43 11.14 8.84 Absolute differences(+,-) +3344.2 +234.2 -156.8 +57.4 -232.9 -3.55 -2.56 -1.70 -2.86

The data from the table show a decrease of all the sales ratios in dynamic. This diminution was due to a higher increase in sales then in profits. It means that the level of costs and expenses has increased during the current year. At the second stage of analysis there are calculated the influence of different factors on these ratios. According to the calculation formulas of the Return on Sales ratios, the following general factors change them: 1. Modification in sales; 2. Modification in profit indicators. These factors correlate between them through the division correlation. It means that the chain substitution method can be applied to perform the return on sales factorial analysis. It is necessary to compute the influence of factors on Return on Sales. The formula of the factors influence is: Return on Sales=Net Profit/Sales Revenues*100% (2.2.5)

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In the table below we will compute the influence of factors on Return on Sales using chain substitution method. Table 2.2.2 Calculation of factors influence on Return on Sales No. of No. of Correlated factors Return Calculation calculation substituti Sales on of the factors Net on influence revenues Profit sales,% 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 0 18491.0 2163.3 11.70 2 1 21833.2 2163.3 9.91 9.91-11.70 3 2 21833.2 1930.4 8.84 8.84-9.91 Total Result of influence, (+,-) 7 -1.79 -1.07 -2.86

The data from the table above show a diminution of Return on Sales by 2.86% due to the negative influence of Sales Revenue and Net Profit. The growth of Sales Revenue by 3342.20 thousand lei affected the resulted indicator, decreasing it by 1.79%.At the same time the diminution of Net profit in dynamic by 232.9 thousand lei decreased Return on Sales ratio by 1.07%. So the enterprise possesses reserves of growing Return on Sales by increasing its Net Profit. Return on investment analysis Return on investment (ROI) measures the relationship between profits and the investment required generating of them. Diverse measures of that investment result in different forms of ROI, such as Return on Asset, Return on Equity, Return on Capital, etc. The Return on Assets compares income (profit) with total assets and tells how well management is performing on all the enterprises resources. It can be interpreted in the following way: Total Asset Turnover*Return on Sales=Sales/average value of Assets*Profit before tax/Sales (2.2.6)

Now will be done the factorial analysis of assets profitability in comparison with previous year using the chain substitution model.

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Table 2.2.3 Factorial analysis of the assets profitability No.of calculation No.of Correlated factors Return Calculation Result of substituti Return on Assets on of the factors influence, on (+,-) Sales Turn- sales,% influence over 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 12.84 0.8395 10.78 1 11.14 0.8395 9.35 9.35-10.78 -1.43 2 11.14 0.9545 10.63 10.63-9.35 +1.28 Total -0.15 (Chain substitution method)

1 1 2 3

The calculations show us a decrease of the return on assets level in comparison with the previous year by 0.15%. This reduction was due to the negative influence of the return on Sales, which decreased the return on assets by 1.43%. At the same time a 1.115% growth of asset turnover caused arise of asset profitability by 1.28%. However, it can be mentioned that the return on assets level is a small one in the both years. That fact does not allow the enterprise to renew its assets in a short period of time. Return on Equity Return on equity measures how well management is doing for the investor, because it tells how much earnings they are getting for each invested lei. The return on total stockholders equity (ROE) excludes debt in the denominator and uses either profit before tax or net profit. It can be calculated according to the following formulas: ROE=(Profit before tax/Average value of Stockholders Equity)*100%; ROE=(Net profit/Average value of Stockholders Equity)*100% (2.2.7) (2.2.8)

Now will be done the factorial analysis of equity profitability in comparison with previous year. The data are taken from the Balance Sheet of the enterprise Larsan.

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Table 2.2.4 Initial data for ROE analysis Indicators 1.Profit before tax 2.Sales revenue 3.Average value of assets 4.Average value of equity 5.Return on sales 6.Assets Turnover 7.ROA 8.Financial Leverage 9.ROE Previous year 2374.5 18491.0 22026.3 19152.7 12.84 0.8395 10.78 1.15 12.40 Actual reporting year 2431.9 21835.2 22877.3 20368.1 11.14 0.9545 10.63 1.1232 11.94 Absolute differences(+,-) +57.4 +3344.2 +851.0 +1215.4 -1.70 +0.115 -0.15 -0.0268 -0.46

Calculation of influence of factors on the Return on Equity is shown in the table below. Table 2.2.5 Factorial analysis of the equity profitability Name of factors 1.Modification on Return on sales The calculation of factors influence (-1.70)*0.8395*1.15 11.14*(+0.115)*1.15 2. Modification on Assets Turnover 3. Modification on 11.14*0.9545*(-0.0268) Financial leverage ratio Total Result of influence(+,-), % -1.65 +1.48

-0.29 -0.46

From the previous year to current year ROE decreased from 12.40% to 11.94%.The decrease of ROE resulted primary from a significant decrease in return on sales ratio from 12.84% to 11.14%. Also a negative influence under the ROE has the modification in capital structure, namely increase in the weight of equity in the total value of assets. Due to this influence, the ROE decreased by 0.29%. At the same

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time the growth of asset turnover by 0.115 caused a rise of equity profitability by 1.48%. However, it can be mentioned that the equity profitability level is a very small one in both years. That fact will determine the enterprise to pay more attention to the return on sales and to its capital structure. Debt Ratio Debt ratio formula plays an important part to calculate the ratio of mortgage to further clear the company's long term debt. If the leverage of the company is higher, the ratio is higher. This ratio is a long term debt to total capitalization. Assortments of ratios are computed, depending on the purpose of the customer analyzing the financial statements. Debt ratio analysis is done on the structure of you total income and the debts. Debt to equity ratio is used to measure the solvency and t research capital ratio. It signifies us how much the company is capable to repay, lend and borrow funds or money. This kind of ratio is viewed and analyzed by the investors and creditors. Lenders are sensitive about debt equity ratio because, the high ratio of debt can put their loans at jeopardy of being paid back. Debt equity ratio is calculated with the total liabilities divided by the shareholders equity. This is the formula of calculating the ratio. This indicates the proportion of equity and debts that a company uses to finance assets. Sometimes it happens that the investors use only long term debts apart from the total liabilities for an inflexible test. Debt asset ratio is formulated as the total liabilities divided by the total assets which signify that the company's assets are financed all the way through a debt. Assets Turnover Analysis An enterprises operating activities require investments in both short term and long term assets. If a business does not use its assets effectively, investors in the business would rather take their money and place it somewhere else. Activity ratios describe the relationship between the enterprises level of operations and the assets

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needed to sustain operating activities. So, these ratios are therefore used to assess how active their assets are in the business. Total assets turnover is an overall activity that measures sales to total assets. It is calculated according to the following formula: Total Asset Turnover = Sales /Average Total Assets (2.2.9)

Now we will determine assets turnover and the turnover ratios of asset component elements. Table 2.2.6 The analysis of assets turnover Indicators 1.Sales,lei 2.Average value of total assets 3.Average value of inventories 4.Average value of fixed assets 5.Average value of receivables 6.Average value of cash 7.Total assets turnover 8.Number of days 9.Fixed assets turnover 10.Number of days 11.Inventory turnover 12.Number of days 13.Receivables turnover 14.Number of days 15.Cash turnover 16.Number of days Previous year 18481002 22026288.0 2057241.5 16295255.0 1549857.5 1717681.5 0.8395 435 1.1347 322 8.99 41 11.93 31 10.76 34 Current year 21835176 22877280.0 1549784.5 15079985.5 3166149.5 2186631 0.9545 382 1.4480 252 14.09 25 6.90 53 9.99 37 Absolute difference (+;-),lei +3344174.0 +850992.0 -507457 -1215269.5 +1616292.0 +468949.5 +0.115 -53 +1.3133 -70 +5.10 -16 -5.03 +22 -0.77 +3

The calculations made above show an increase of total asset turnover and fixed assets turnover ratios respectively by 0.115 and 0.3133. So, the enterprise uses more efficient its assets and especially fixed assets in current period.

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The inventory turnover ratio has improved significantly from 8.99 (41 days) in previous year to 14.09 (25 days) in current year. But the receivables turnover ratio decreased by 5.03 (22 days) in current year in comparison with previous year. The similar decrease shows the cash turnover ratio over this period. Liquidity Ratios Analysis Liquidity ratios are probably the most commonly used of all the business ratios. They are ratios that come off the Balance Sheet and hence measure the liquidity of the enterprise as on particular day the day that Balance Sheet was prepared. Liquidity ratios provide information about an enterprises ability to meet its short-term financial obligations. Companies will generally pay their interest payments and other short-term debts with current assets. Therefore, it is essential that an enterprise have an adequate surplus of current assets in order to meet their current liabilities. If an enterprise has only illiquid assets, it may not be able to make payments on their debts. In economic process the following ratios are applied: Current ratio measures an enterprises ability to pay their current obligations. The greater extent to which current assets exceed current liabilities, the easier an enterprise can meet its short-term obligations. The Current Ratio is obtained by dividing the Total Current Assets of an enterprise by its Total Current Liabilities: Current Ratio=Total Current Assets/ Total Current Liabilities (2.2.10) Now, taking the initial data from Balance Sheet, well determine Current Ratio.

Table 2.2.7 Current ratio calculation Indicators A Current ratio Previous year 1 2.35 Current year 2 5.57 Absolute difference 3 +3.22 Safety level 4 2.0-2.5

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The enterprise has 5.57 lei of Current Assets to meet 1.00 lei of its Current Liability in current year more by 3.22 than in previous one. A ratio lower than that of the industry average suggests that the company may have liquidity problems. However, a significantly higher ratio may suggest that the company is not efficiently using its funds. A satisfactory Current Ratio for a company will be within close range of the industry average. Quick Ratio. Sometimes an enterprise could be carrying heavy inventory as part of its current assets, which might be obsolete or slow moving. Thus eliminating inventory from current assets and the doing the liquidity test is measured by this ratio. Like the Current Ratio, to have an Acid Test Ratio within close range to the industry average is desirable. Its safety level is from 0.8 to 0.7. This ratio is obtained by the following formula: Quick ratio= Total Quick Assets / Total Current Liabilities where Quick Assets= Total Current Assets-Inventory (2.2.11) (2.2.12)

Now well determine Quick Ratio, taking the initial data from Balance Sheet. Table 2.2.8 Quick Ratio Calculation Indicators A Quick ratio Previous year 1 1.66 Current year 2 4.69 Absolute difference 3 +3.03 Safety level 4 0.7-0.8

The enterprise has 4.69 lei of Quick Assets to meet 1.00 lei of its Current Liability in current year, more by 3.03 than in previous one. Cash Ratio is the most conservative liquidity ratio. It excludes all current assets except the most liquid: cash and cash equivalents. The cash ratio is an indication of the enterprises ability to pay off its current liabilities if for some reason immediate payment were demanded. Its safety level is from 0.2 to 0.25. The formula of Cash Ratio is: Cash Ratio= Cash / Total Current Liabilities (2.2.13) Now, taking the initial data from Balance Sheet, well determine Cash Ratio.

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Table 2.2.9 Cash Ratio Calculation Indicators A Cash ratio Previous year 1 0.97 Current year 2 1.24 Absolute difference 3 +0.27 Safety level 4 0.2-0.25

The enterprise has 1.24 lei of Cash to meet 1.00 lei of its Current Liability in current year, more by 0.27 than in previous one. The level of this ratio much more overcomes its safety level. Additionally, all the ratios have increased over the two year period, meaning that the enterprise has a stronger liquidity position than it had before. Normally that is a good thing. So, the ratios of the enterprise attained the optimal level in previous year (the enterprise was able to obtain long-term short-term credits, being solvent). On the other hand, the liquidity ratios overrun their safety level in current year, meaning that the assets of the enterprise have an irrational structure. For this enterprise, there has been major turnaround between the two years as the ratios have increased. Looking at the accounting information from the appendix, we can see that the business has increased its sales by 18.08% over the two years, its stocks have raised by 54.19%; debtors have decreased by 58.52%.

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CONCLUSION This paperwork reveals the big importance of Financial Diagnosis for the life of the enterprise. So, a constant need to evaluate the performances and the potential of the activity irrespective of the level or area of its manifestation, to compare them with something considered as reference at a certain moment, to define the priorities and the ways of the management activity is manifested in the actual economic context. That is why the Financial Diagnosis appears as a necessity and utility at the same time. The diagnosis appears with a view to have knowledge of the economic phenomena and procedures. It implies the research of one phenomenon by dividing it into its component parts and studying each of them separately. It is very important to establish the limit in diagnosis, further on the object is not of a great importance in the division, because the objects characteristics can be lost. The limit of the analysis is appreciated by its goal and tasks. Step by step, the diagnosis became a requirement in the civilized society. The conscious activity of the human being comes to be impossible without diagnosis. The process of thinking passes through 3 interdependent steps: real, natural contemplation, abstract thinking, formulating new purposes and conclusions. The diagnosis proceeds through the same stages. The real contemplation is the beginning of the knowledge- of the analysis. This is the cognition of the reality by gathering facts. At the second step the necessary information is collected and processed. This information allows us to discover the meaning and some issues of the studied phenomenon development and this fact permits us to make conclusions, to define practice purposes for a permanent development. In such circumstances the logic of the analytical research represents the act of passing from the abstract to concrete, the transformation of the theoretical situations into practical ones for a further economic development.

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The decomposition is made in steps, from the complex to the simple, with the view to identify the final causes that explain a certain state, a certain level of performance, or a certain evolution. In this way the Financial Diagnosis starts from the results of the completed process to the elements and factors. Elements represent the component parts of the analyzed phenomenon. Factors are the dynamic forces that motivate a phenomenon or a result. And final causes represent the events that in a certain conditions explain the appearance of a phenomenon, its state and evolution.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY: 1. Brezeanu P., Bostinaru A., Prjisteanu B., Diagnostic financiar.Instrumente de analiz financiar, Editura Economic,2003 2. Dragot V., Ciobanu A.M., Obreja L., Dragot M., Management financiar, vol.I, 3. Niculescu M., Diagnostic financiar, vol.2, Editura Economic, 4. Niculescu M., Diagnostic global strategic, Editura Economic,1997, 5. Petrescu S., Diagnostic economico-financiar. Metodologie.Studii de caz, Editura Sedcom-Libris,Iasi,2004 6. Rusu C., Diagnostic economico-financiar, Editura Economic, 2006 7. Vasile I., Gestiunea Financiar a ntreprinderii, Editura Meteor Press, 2005 8. Prodan Natalia, A didactic and applicative course in economic and financial analysis for english learning students 9. N. Tsiriulnicov, Ananliza rapoartelor financiare 10. Constantin Cojocaru,Analiza economico-financiara, Editura Economica,1997 11. Leopold Bernstein, Financial Statement Analysis, Fifth Edition, 2002 13. Niculescu M., The Economic Diagnosis, Economic Edition,Romania,2003 14. James Sidney, Firm accounting and business analysis,1979 15. Rima Hohne, Development of economic analysis,1996 16. Dov Fried, The analysis and Use of Financial Statements, Second edition, 1998. 17. Lee, Cheng, Financial analysis and planning, Cincinnati, 1999 18. Samuelson, Foundations of economic analysis, Cincinnati, 1995 19. Erich Helfent, Tecniques of financial analysis,1987 20. Boulding Kemreth. Economic analysis, 1961