Financial ratio analysis in the food industry: Sample company practices

Financial statements are financial instruments that periodically provide information to business stakeholders on various issues related to business activities. The raw information in the financial statements becomes usable in the decision-making process with the help of different financial analysis techniques. One of these financial analysis techniques is ratio analysis. With ratio analysis, the results obtained by proportioning the financial statement account items of the enterprises to each other are compared with the predetermined criteria (business past ratios, generally accepted ratios, competitor ratios, sector averages), and the information that financial information users need in the decision-making process can be produced. In the thesis study carried out the main objective is to analyze and interpret the data obtained from the balance sheet and comprehensive income statements of the companies in the food, beverage and tobacco manufacturing sub-sector in Borsa Istanbul (BIST) for the 5-years periods covering the years 2016-2020 by using the ratio analysis technique. The sample of the thesis study consists of 30 companies operating in the food, beverage and tobacco sector. Data on companies were obtained from Public Disclosure Platform (KAP), Data Analysis Platform (VAP) and official websites of companies. The data obtained were periodically subjected to ratio analysis and the results were evaluated by comparing them with the sector averages in the VAP. In the thesis study, which includes the period when the Covid-19 pandemic was widespread during the period within the scope of the research, a general evaluation of the companies forming the sample was made within the framework of liquidity ratios, activity ratios, financial structure ratios and profitability ratios. When the ratios obtained as a result of the research are compared with the sector averages, it is seen that the top three companies in terms of liquidity ratios are Coca Cola, Kristal Kola and Ülker Bisküvi. When compared in terms of activity ratios, Banvit Bandırma, Coca Cola and Kent Gıda are the top three most successful companies, and when compared in terms of financial structure ratios, Kristal Kola, Pınar Entegre Et and Türk Tuborg rank among the top three most successful companies. Finally, the top three companies with the best performance in terms of profitability are Tat Gıda, Türk Tuborg and Ülker Bisküvi. There is no company in the ranking of success in terms of all ratios.