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Understanding these terms

Plain-English explanations of each figure in the table above, and what a beginner typically looks at. These are educational descriptions only, not advice.

Equity Capital

The face value of shares issued by the company — the base capital contributed by shareholders, not including accumulated profits.How a beginner reads it: A beginner notes that this is usually a small, slow-changing figure. Most shareholder value sits in reserves, not equity capital. A sudden change can signal new share issues or splits.

Reserves

Accumulated profits the company has kept over the years instead of paying out, plus certain other surpluses. Part of shareholders' funds.How a beginner reads it: A beginner sees growing reserves as a sign the business has been retaining earnings. Reserves relative to equity capital show how much the company has built up beyond its original share capital.

Borrowings

The total money the company owes to lenders — short-term and long-term loans and bonds.How a beginner reads it: A beginner reads borrowings next to reserves and operating profit to gauge how much debt the business carries and whether it can comfortably service it. Falling borrowings over time can indicate deleveraging.

Other Liabilities

Amounts the company owes that are not borrowings — such as money due to suppliers, taxes payable, and provisions.How a beginner reads it: A beginner treats this as the everyday obligations of running the business. Large swings are worth understanding, but a steady level alongside growing sales is typical.

Total Liabilities

Everything the company owes — borrowings plus all other obligations combined.How a beginner reads it: A beginner reads total liabilities against total assets to see how much of the company is financed by what it owes versus what shareholders own.

Fixed Assets

Long-lived physical assets used to run the business — land, buildings, plant, and machinery — shown after deducting accumulated depreciation.How a beginner reads it: A beginner notes whether a business is asset-heavy (lots of fixed assets) or asset-light. Growing fixed assets can signal expansion, but readers also check whether profits are keeping pace with that investment.

CWIP

Capital Work In Progress — money already spent on assets (like a factory being built) that are not yet finished or in use.How a beginner reads it: A beginner reads CWIP as future capacity under construction. A large or growing CWIP hints at expansion that has not yet started earning; readers watch for it to convert into fixed assets and, eventually, sales.

Investments

Money the company has placed in shares, bonds, mutual funds, or subsidiaries, rather than in its own operations.How a beginner reads it: A beginner distinguishes operating performance from investment holdings. A company with large investments may earn meaningful "other income" that is separate from its core business.

Other Assets

Assets not separately listed — typically including cash, receivables, inventory, and miscellaneous items.How a beginner reads it: A beginner reads this as the remainder of what the company owns. When it forms a big part of total assets, it can be worth understanding what sits inside it.

Total Assets

Everything the company owns — fixed assets, investments, cash, inventory, and receivables combined.How a beginner reads it: A beginner reads total assets to gauge the size of the business and, alongside profit, how efficiently those assets generate earnings.