Hey future banker,

Welcome back to Finterview! We hope your recruiting is going well.

Let’s jump into today’s interview question.

If you could use only one financial statement to judge the financial health of a company, which one would you choose?

Let me break it down simply:

Think of financial statements like medical tests. Each provides different insights, but the cash flow statement is your full-body scan - it shows what's really happening beneath the surface.

Income statements can be manipulated. Companies can play accounting games with revenue recognition or expense timing. Like a patient who looks healthy in photos but isn't feeling great.

Balance sheets show a snapshot, but it's like taking a single photo. They tell you what exists at one moment, but not how things are moving and changing.

The cash flow statement reveals the truth. It shows actual cash coming in and out, can't be easily manipulated, and demonstrates a company's ability to generate real money. It's like seeing a heart monitor that shows actual pulse, not just how someone looks.

Remember: Cash is king. The cash flow statement tells you if a company can pay bills, invest in growth, and survive tough times. Profits on paper mean nothing if you can't convert them to actual cash.

Talk soon,

Sam

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