The formulas
- Index_t = amount_t / base year amount x 100
- Year-over-year change = (amount_t - amount_t-1) / amount_t-1
- CAGR = (last / base)^(1 / years) - 1
How it works
Horizontal analysis tracks one line item across several years against a base year set to 100. The index shows cumulative movement, and the year-over-year column shows when it happened. It is a basic analytic for revenue, expenses and balances.
A line that grows much faster than the related driver, for example expenses against revenue, is a lead for audit inquiry. Fill the years in order. The last non-zero year entered is treated as the end of the series, so a trailing zero or blank year is treated as not entered.
Illustrative figures only. Check the result against your firm's methodology before relying on it.
Common questions
Why choose a base year?
Any year works. Pick a normal year so the index is not distorted by an unusual one.
What if the base is negative or zero?
The index and CAGR are not meaningful and are left blank.
Is CAGR the same as average growth?
No. CAGR is the constant rate that gives the same ending value.
Formulas on this page are the standard definitions.
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