Common Size Balance Sheet
A company balance sheet that displays all items as percentages of a common base figure. This type of financial statement can be used to allow for easy analysis between companies or between time periods of a company.
Investopedia Commentary
The image above illustrates the difference between a regular balance sheet and a common size balance sheet. In the normal balance sheet, account values are expressed in dollar terms, while in the common size one, each value is listed as a percentage of total assets. This is also done for liabilities, where each liability account is a percentage of total liabilities.
Related Links
Reading The Balance Sheet
Understanding The Income Statement
Introduction to Fundamental Analysis
Advanced Financial Statement Analysis
See also: Accounting, Asset, Balance Sheet, Common Size Financial Statement, Common Size Income Statement, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles - GAAP, Income Statement, Liability