Smokes & Mirrors

Identify unsustainable practices.


Financial reporting red flag
Aggressive revenue recognition
CFO/Net income < 1 or reducing
Abnormal sales growth/ inventory growth/ gross margin/ operating margin
Abnormal use of operating lease
LIFO liquidation
Aggressive pension assumptions
Extending use of long-lived assets
Year end surprise
Off balance sheet entities or financing arrangements

Fad-check Fraud-check