Financial Data
Enter the essential financial figures below. Expand the additional sections for a comprehensive analysis.
Financial Ratio Analysis Guide for European Auditors — free PDF
ISA 520 & ISA 570 practical workbook: all formulas with visual explanations, industry benchmark reference tables from BACH for 15 industries, ratio interpretation guide, and template narrative paragraphs for audit working papers.
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ISA 520.5 — Design and perform analytical procedures near the end of the audit that assist in forming an overall conclusion.
ISA 520.A1 — Analytical procedures may include ratios such as gross margin percentages and ratio of sales to accounts receivable.
ISA 570.A3 — Negative working capital, adverse key financial ratios, operating losses, and other indicators may cast doubt on going concern.
Financial Ratio Analysis for Real Estate
Real estate financial ratio analysis is dominated by asset valuation and debt covenant compliance. Property companies' financial statements are fundamentally driven by fair value measurements under IAS 40 (investment property) or IAS 16 (owner-occupied property), meaning that balance sheet ratios fluctuate with property market cycles rather than operational performance alone. This creates unique challenges for analytical procedures under ISA 520.
The loan-to-value (LTV) ratio is typically the most critical covenant metric for real estate companies. Most European property financing carries LTV covenants of 50–70%, and breaching these triggers either mandatory repayment or renegotiation. Interest coverage (EBIT or EBITDA / Interest) is the second key covenant, with typical thresholds of 1.5–2.0x for property companies. The debt-to-equity ratio for property companies (median 1.80x in BACH data) is structurally higher than many sectors due to the asset-heavy, leverage-dependent business model.
Net margin can be extremely volatile for property companies because unrealised fair value gains and losses flow through profit or loss under IAS 40 (fair value model). A property company might show 40% net margin in a rising market and negative margin in a declining market, without any change in underlying rental income. For ISA 520 analytical procedures, auditors should separate rental income-based ratios (which reflect operational performance) from total P&L ratios (which are distorted by revaluation movements).
Regulatory Context
IAS 40 fair value model vs. cost model. IFRS 13 fair value hierarchy. LTV and interest coverage covenants. REIT-specific distribution requirements. Property fund NAV calculation requirements.
Industry-Specific Going Concern Indicators (ISA 570)
LTV ratio approaching covenant breach levels
Upcoming loan maturities without confirmed refinancing
Vacancy rates increasing above 15%
Key tenant default or lease break option exercise
Property valuations declining more than 10% year-on-year
Interest coverage falling below covenant minimum (typically 1.5x)
Worked Example: European Commercial Property Company
UrbanCore Properties NV — commercial real estate portfolio valued at €120M
Key results: Current Ratio: 0.63 (typical — most assets are non-current), Net Margin: 76.5% (distorted by fair value gains), ROE: 12.5%, D/E: 1.50, Interest Coverage: 1.36x (monitor covenant), LTV implied: ~60%