Glossary: M12 Financial Statement Modeling

TermDefinition
Financial Statement ModelingBuilding projected (pro forma) financial statements based on assumptions about future performance
Revenue ForecastProjection of future revenues using growth rates, market analysis, or segment-level estimates
Expense ModelingProjecting costs based on historical margins, cost structure, and operating leverage
Sensitivity AnalysisExamining how changes in a single input assumption affect model outputs
Scenario AnalysisEvaluating outcomes under different sets of assumptions (base, bull, bear cases)
Base CaseMost likely set of assumptions in a financial model
Bull CaseOptimistic scenario with favorable assumptions
Bear CasePessimistic scenario with adverse assumptions
Integrated Financial ModelModel linking income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement so changes flow through consistently
Balancing ItemLine item (typically cash or debt) that ensures the balance sheet balances in a projected model