Resumen Las empresas deben evaluar constantemente sus actividades para establecer estrategias que permitan su desarrollo. El objetivo de esta investigación fue analizar el desempeño en la empresa ecuatoriana de balanceados Coprobalan S. A. La metodología empleada fue de carácter descriptivo, con un enfoque cuantitativo. Se aplicó indicadores de liquidez, solvencia, gestión y rentabilidad de acuerdo con políticas e información pública expuesta por la Superintendencia de Compañías, Valores y Seguros del Ecuador. Como resultado se evidenció que la empresa de productos balanceados Coprobalan S.A. cumple con sus obligaciones a corto plazo, tiene proyección de crecimiento evidenciado en las inversiones en las cuales utilizó capital propio y de terceros, ha implementado estrategias orientadas a mejorar la rotación de cartera, activo fijo y ventas, presentando además, una buena gestión de sus gastos, pero para lograr un mayor crecimiento y desarrollo empresarial debe optar por estrategias que permitan aumentar la rentabilidad sin comprometer las relaciones con los proveedores y la calidad de sus productos.

Abstract Companies must constantly evaluate their activities to establish strategies that allow their development. The objective of this investigation was to analyze the performance in the Ecuadorian company of balanced Coprobalan S. A.; The methodology used was descriptive, with a quantitative approach. Indicators of liquidity, solvency, management and profitability were applied in accordance with policies and public information exposed by the Superintendency of Companies, Securities and Insurance of Ecuador. As a result, it was evidenced that the company of balanced products Coprobalan S.A. complies with its short-term obligations, has a growth projection evidenced in the investments in which it used its own capital and that of third parties, has implemented strategies aimed at improving portfolio rotation, fixed assets and sales, also presenting good management of its expenses, but to achieve greater growth and business development, you must opt for strategies that allow you to increase profitability without compromising relationships with suppliers and the quality of your products.

Resumo O debate sobre o poder do banco central para controlar a inflação e estabilizar o ciclo de negócios foi reaberto recentemente. Este documento argumenta que a política monetária funciona mudando a disposição dos bancos ao invés de alterar a taxa de juros, e que não há “mestres” dos bancos centrais que conhecem o segredo da manutenção do pleno emprego e da estabilidade de preços. A transmissão das taxas de juros não funciona como os livros didáticos supõem. As evidências empíricas mostram que a taxa de juros do Fed não afeta as taxas de juros de longo prazo e que o investimento empresarial depende das condições de crédito e não tanto do custo dos fundos emprestados. No mundo real, não há mercados em que se troquem as mercadorias de hoje pelas mercadorias de amanhã; há mercados de crédito. A taxa de juros não mede o preço relativo do consumo presente versus consumo futuro, mas o trade-off entre renda versus liquidez e segurança.

Abstract The debate over the power of central banking to control inflation and stabilize the business cycle has recently been reopened. This brief argues that monetary policy works by changing the disposition of banks rather than by altering the interest rate, and that there are no central banking "masters" who know the secret of maintaining full employment and price stability. Interest rate pass-through does not work as the textbooks assume. Empirical evidence shows that the Fed's interest rate does not affect long-term interest rates, and that business investment depends on credit conditions and not so much on the cost of loanable funds. In the real world, there are no markets in which you exchange today's goods for tomorrow's goods; there are credit markets. The interest rate does not measure the relative price of present consumption versus future consumption, but the trade-off between income versus liquidity and security.

Resumen En los últimos tiempos se ha reabierto el debate sobre el poder de la banca central para controlar la inflación y estabilizar el ciclo económico. Este escrito argumenta que la política monetaria funciona modificando la disposición de los bancos más que alterando la tasa de interés, y que no existen "maestros" de la banca central que conozcan el secreto de mantener el pleno empleo y la estabilidad de precios. La transmisión de las tasas de interés no funciona como suponen los libros de textos. La evidencia empírica muestra que la tasa de interés de la Fed no afecta las tasas de interés de largo plazo, y que la inversión de las empresas depende de las condiciones crediticias y no tanto del costo de los fondos prestables. En el mundo real no existen mercados en los que intercambien bienes de hoy por bienes de mañana; existen mercados de crédito. La tasa de interés no mide el precio relativo del consumo presente versus el consumo futuro, sino la disyuntiva entre ingresos frente a liquidez y seguridad.

Resumen los nuevos emprendimientos se presentan de muchas formas, sin embargo, perdurar en el tiempo es un desafío, debido a los diversos factores que intervienen en su subsistencia. Por lo tanto, el objetivo del estudio es diseñar y validar una escala de perdurabilidad del emprendimiento empresarial (EPEE). La investigación está bajo el soporte metodológico de un estudio de tipo instrumental, para esto se elaboraron 20 ítems bajo la revisión de la literatura, se verificó los ítems por medio de jueces y prueba piloto. El instrumento se aplicó a 400 emprendedores. Luego, a partir del control de calidad de los datos se obtuvo estadísticas descriptivas y de fiabilidad para realizar el análisis factorial exploratorio (AFE) y el análisis factorial confirmatorio (AFC). Los resultados revelaron adecuados niveles de fiabilidad (α=.989; ω=0.99) de los 20 ítems; además, el AFE reportó que los 20 ítems cargan en un solo factor (λ>0.8), un KMO muy bueno y un Bartlett significativo con una varianza explicada del 82,5 %; en cambio, el AFC reportó 4 modelos, donde el modelo 4 (M4) con 15 ítems tiene adecuados índices de bondad de ajuste que confirman la estructura factorial del modelo unifactorial. En conclusión, al contar con adecuados índices de bondad de ajuste, el M4 es el más apropiado para medir la perdurabilidad del emprendimiento empresarial en emprendedores.

Abstract new ventures come in many forms, however, enduring over time is a challenge, due to the various factors involved in their survival. Therefore, the aim of the study is to design and validate an entrepreneurship durability scale (EPEE). The research is under the methodological support of an instrumental type of study, for these 20 items were elaborated under the literature review, and the items were verified by judges and pilot testing. The instrument was applied to 400 entrepreneurs. After the quality control of the data, descriptive and reliability statistics were obtained to carry out the exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The results revealed adequate reliability levels (α=.989; ω=0.99) of the 20 items; furthermore, the AFE reported that all 20 items load on a single factor (λ>0.8), a very good KMO and a significant Bartlett with an explained variance of 82,5 %; in contrast, the CFA reported 4 models, where model 4 (M4) with 15 items has adequate goodness-of-fit indices confirming the factor structure of the single-factor model. In conclusion, as it has adequate goodness-of-fit indices, the M4 is the most appropriate for measuring the durability of entrepreneurship in entrepreneurs.

Resumen La pandemia de coronavirus ha provocado alteraciones en las cadenas de producción mundiales. Por ello, resulta importante analizar el impacto de este fenómeno en las empresas de diferentes sectores económicos, especialmente en aquellos países con menor capacidad de respuesta ante la emergencia sanitaria. Así, el objetivo de este trabajo es determinar el impacto de la pandemia de covid-19 sobre el desempeño de las empresas de cuatro países centroamericanos. Mediante el uso de datos longitudinales de la encuesta empresarial del Banco Mundial, se empleó un modelo de diferencias con el fin de estimar el impacto de este fenómeno global, considerando características tanto internas como externas. Los hallazgos muestran que las consecuencias económicas durante el período analizado de la pandemia es significativo, puesto que cerca de 2 % de las empresas cerraron permanentemente y 60 % de manera temporal. Las ventas totales y las ventas por empleado cayeron alrededor de 30 %, con resultados más adversos para las firmas que cerraron temporalmente debido a las restricciones impuestas. No obstante, la respuesta inmediata de los gobiernos por medio de créditos fiscales e incentivos ha permitido satisfacer las necesidades de liquidez a corto plazo de las compañías en los países analizados.

Abstract The coronavirus pandemic has caused a disruption in global production chains. Therefore, it is important to examine the impact of this phenomenon on companies from different economic sectors, especially in countries with a lower response capacity to face this public health emergency. With that in mind, the objective of this work is to determine how the covid-19 pandemic has affected business performance in four Central American countries. Using longitudinal data from the World Bank business survey, a differences model was implemented in order to estimate the impact of this pandemic, considering both internal and external characteristics. According to our findings, the studied four-month impact of the pandemic was significant, with about 2% of businesses in the studied countries closing permanently and 60% temporarily. Sales and sales per employee dropped about 30%, with the situation being worse for companies that closed temporarily due to restrictions. However, the immediate response of governments through tax credits and incentives has been well geared to meeting short-term liquidity needs of firms.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Identificar los factores determinantes que explican el bajo desempeño empresarial en Lima Metropolitana durante la pandemia del COVID-19. Método: Se utilizó el análisis factorial para agrupar los problemas que enfrentaron las empresas de Lima Metropolitana durante la pandemia del COVID-19, y también para identificar los principales factores asociados a estos problemas. Luego se estimaron los efectos que tuvieron los factores sobre el desempeño empresarial, entendido como el índice de ventas de las empresas. Resultados: Los factores asociados a los problemas de liquidez y operatividad tuvieron un efecto negativo y estadísticamente significativo sobre el índice de ventas de las empresas. Sin embargo, el factor asociado a los problemas de liquidez fue determinante para explicar el comportamiento del índice de ventas en las empresas de Lima Metropolitana durante la pandemia del COVID-19. Conclusión: Los problemas asociados al acceso a financiamiento y falta de liquidez de las empresas son los que explican en mayor medida el bajo desempeño empresarial en Lima Metropolitana durante la pandemia del COVID-19.

ABSTRACT Objective: Identify the determining factors that explain the poor business performance in Metropolitan Lima during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: Factor analysis was used to group the problems that Metropolitan Lima companies faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to identify the main factors associated with these problems. Subsequently, the effects that the factors had on business performance were estimated, which are understood as the companies' sales index. Results: The factors associated with liquidity and operational problems had a negative and statistically significant effect on the companies' sales index. However, the factor associated with liquidity problems was decisive in explaining the behavior of the sales index in companies in Metropolitan Lima during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion: The problems associated with access to financing and lack of liquidity of companies are the ones that explain to a greater extent the poor business performance in Metropolitan Lima during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Abstract Microenterprises are an important factor in Ecuador’s economic development. This research analyzes and compares financial indicators such as financial profitability, indebtedness and current liquidity of microenterprises in the province of Guayas with those in other provinces of Ecuador. The analysis used a quantitative methodology of descriptive type of cross-sectional design for 13,768 microenterprises in the province of Guayas and 16,093 microenterprises in the rest of the provinces of Ecuador that reported their financial statements to the Superintendence of Companies, Securities and Insurance as of 2019. To compare these groups, a t-test was performed for independent samples with unequal variances. The results of this research indicate that, with a 95% confidence level, average indebtedness and average current liquidity are higher in the province of Guayas while microenterprises in the rest of Ecuador report better average financial profitability. Although Guayas province has the highest percentage of microenterprises in the country, this is not a sufficient condition to conclude that its financial indicators, on average, are better than those of the rest of Ecuador. This research aims to make a contribution to the development of lines of work that contribute to the elaboration and design of policies that help the survival and business performance of microenterprises.

Resumen Las microempresas representan un componente significativo para el progreso económico de Ecuador. Esta investigación analiza y compara indicadores financieros como la rentabilidad financiera, el endeudamiento y la liquidez corriente de las microempresas de la provincia del Guayas con las del resto de provincias de Ecuador. El análisis utilizó una metodología cuantitativa de tipo descriptiva de diseño transversal para 13 768 microempresas de la provincia del Guayas y 16 093 microempresas del resto de las provincias de Ecuador que reportaron su información financiera a la Superintendencia de Compañías, Valores y Seguros al año 2019. Para comparar estos grupos se realizó una prueba t para muestras independientes con varianzas desiguales. Los resultados de esta investigación indican que, con un nivel de confianza del 95 %, el promedio de endeudamiento y la liquidez corriente media son mayores en la provincia del Guayas mientras que las microempresas del resto de Ecuador reportan una mejor rentabilidad financiera promedio. A pesar de que la provincia del Guayas tiene el mayor porcentaje de microempresas en el país, no es condición suficiente para concluir que sus indicadores financieros, en promedio, son mejores que los del resto de Ecuador. Esta investigación pretende ser un aporte al desarrollo de líneas de trabajo que contribuyan a la elaboración y diseño de políticas que ayuden a la supervivencia y desempeño empresarial de las microempresas.

Resumen Mediante la estimación de una función de producción de frontera estocástica que vincula variables de trabajo y capital en 410 empresas agrarias, se evaluó el comportamiento de la eficiencia productiva agraria de Colombia, y sus afectaciones por localización geográfica y por tamaño empresarial. Se encontró que los factores que más aportan a la función de producción se relacionan con la fuerza laboral, la liquidez empresarial y el inmovilizado inmaterial, aspectos que brindan ventajas de competencia para las medianas y grandes empresas; por lo tanto, se sugiere mejorar la estrategia político-privada de gestión empresarial con incentivos para la asociatividad, el financiamiento económico, el acceso a I+D+i y la transferencia, dirigida a la pequeña empresa agraria.

Abstract By estimating a stochastic frontier production function that links labor and capital variables in 410 agricultural companies, the behavior of the agricultural productive efficiency in Colombia was evaluated, as well as its effects by geographic location and business size. Results showed that the factors that contribute most to the production function are related to the labor force, business liquidity and intangible assets, aspects that provide competitive advantages for medium and large companies; therefore, we suggest to improve the political-private strategy of business management with incentives for associativity, economic financing, access to R+D+i and transfer, directed to small agricultural companies.

Resumen Este estudio analiza el impacto del riesgo de liquidez sobre el retorno de las acciones en el mercado bursátil chileno durante el periodo de enero de 2000 hasta julio de 2018. Gran cantidad de estudios se han centrado en medir este efecto en los mercados desarrollados y pocos en mercados emergentes, especialmente el chileno. Para ello, se utilizó un modelo de regresión múltiple 6 medidas de riesgo; cuatro utilizadas ampliamente en estudios anteriores y dos medidas nuevas propuestas. Encontramos evidencia de significancia del riesgo de liquidez sobre el retorno accionario.

Abstract This study analyzes the impact of liquidity risk on the return of shares in the Chilean stock market during the period from January 2000 to July 2018. Many studies have focused on measuring this effect in developed markets and few in emerging markets, especially the Chilean one. To do this, we used 6 risk measures in a multiple regression model; four widely used in previous studies and two new proposed measures. We found evidence of the significance of the liquidity risk over the stock return.

Resumo Este estudo analisa o impacto do risco de liquidez no retorno das ações no mercado de ações chileno, durante o período de janeiro de 2000 a julho de 2018. Muitos estudos têm se concentrado em medir este efeito em mercados desenvolvidos e poucos nos mercados emergentes, especialmente o chileno. Para isso, utilizamos 6 medidas de risco em um modelo de regressão múltipla; quatro amplamente utilizados em estudos anteriores e duas novas medidas propostas. Encontramos evidências da significância do risco de liquidez sobre o retorno das ações.

Resumen En este trabajo se analizan los principales criterios que consideran las entidades financieras a la hora de otorgar un crédito a una Mipyme, al objeto de minimizar su riesgo de impago. Para ello, se desarrolla un estudio empírico realizado a 73 analistas de riesgos de entidades financieras peruanas. Los criterios utilizados por las entidades financieras se clasifican en: personalidad y experiencia del empresario; características del producto o servicio que ofrece la empresa y del mercado donde desarrolla su actividad; estrategia y organización de la empresa; y criterios relacionados con la información contable que presentan las empresas. Los resultados muestran que los criterios que los analistas de riesgos consideran más relevantes a la hora de otorgar un crédito son: el conocimiento del sector que tiene el empresario, la honestidad e integridad del empresario, la cartera de clientes con la que cuenta la empresa, y calificación del personal de la empresa. En cuanto a los criterios relacionados con la información contable, los analistas de riesgos valoran especialmente los ratios de liquidez y de endeudamiento, que las empresas lleven algún sistema de costos fiable y que no aparezcan en registros de impagos como el INFOCORP. Este trabajo es especialmente útil a las entidades financieras para ayudarles a mejorar sus sistemas de calificación y a las Mipymes para favorecer una mejor relación con las entidades financieras.

Abstract In this paper we analyze the main criteria that financial institutions consider when granting credit to a MSME, in order to minimize their risk of default. For this purpose, an empirical study was carried out on 73 risk analysts from Peruvian financial institutions. The criteria used by financial institutions are classified into: personality and experience of the entrepreneur; characteristics of the product or service offered by the company and the market where it operates; strategy and organization of the company; and criteria related to the accounting information presented by companies. The results show that the most relevant criteria considered by the risk analysts when granting a credit are: knowledge of the sector that has the entrepreneur, honesty and integrity of the entrepreneur, the client portfolio with which the company has, and qualification of the personnel of the company. Regarding the criteria related to accounting information, risk analysts especially value the liquidity and debt ratios, that companies carry some reliable cost system and that they do not appear in defaults such as INFOCORP. This work is especially useful to financial institutions to help them improve their rating systems, and to MSMEs to foster a better relationship with financial institutions.

Com este estudo pretende-se avaliar o papel moderador do ambiente da indústria e da estratégia empresarial na relação da liquidez interna com o investimento das empresas. Literatura recente sugere que a intensidade da relação da liquidez interna com o investimento é reveladora dos constrangimentos financeiros das empresas no acesso ao mercado de capitais. A investigação aplicada é desenvolvida com uma amostra de empresas da indústria transformadora portuguesa. Foi estimado um modelo de dados em painel composto por variáveis financeiras, ambientais, estratégicas e interativas. A regressão do modelo anterior permite observar que o ambiente da indústria e a estratégia empresarial moderam a relação da liquidez interna com o investimento, intensificando-a ou atenuando-a. Esta situação sugere que os fatores ambientais e estratégicos influenciam os custos de agência e de seleção adversa das empresas e, consequentemente, o acesso aos fundos de que necessitam.

This study aims to evaluate the moderator role of industry environment and business strategy on the effect of internal liquidity on firm´s investment. Recent literature suggests that the intensity of the relationship between internal liquidity and investment explains firm´s financial constraints in the access to the capital market. Applied research is conducted with a sample of non-financial firms in Portuguese manufacturing industry. It was estimated a panel data model composed of financial, environmental, strategic and interactive variables. The regression of the previous model noted that industry environment and business strategy moderate internal liquidity's relationship with the investment, increasing or reducing it. This suggests that agency and adverse selection costs are influenced by environmental and strategic factors, hindering or facilitating access to funds that firms need.

O objetivo neste trabalho foi verificar se havia diferenças significativas nos indicadores contábeis das empresas sustentáveis em relação a outras companhias não reconhecidas como sustentáveis. O Índice de Sustentabilidade Empresarial (ISE) da BM foi o critério selecionado para separação da amostra em empresas sustentáveis ou não. Os indicadores contábeis analisados foram divididos em duas categorias: risco (taxa de pagamento de dividendos, crescimento percentual do ativo, alavancagem financeira, liquidez corrente, tamanho do ativo, variabilidade do lucro, beta contábil) e retorno (ROA, ROE, giro do ativo, margem líquida), identificados na revisão da literatura. Foram analisadas, individualmente, companhias do setor de energia elétrica e do setor bancário, além de ter sido realizada uma análise sem divisão setorial para a carteira 2008/2009 do ISE. Para verificação da diferença de médias entre os grupos foi utilizado o teste de Mann-Whitney (α ≤ 0,05). Os resultados, de maneira geral, e feitas as devidas considerações sobre o método utilizado e o período estudado, indicam que não há diferenças, medidas pelos indicadores contábeis selecionados, entre as empresas sustentáveis e as que não são assim consideradas.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether there were significant differences in accounting indicators when comparing sustainable enterprises to other similar companies that are not considered as sustainable. The Corporate Sustainability Index of BM (São Paulo Stock, Commodities and Futures Exchange) was the criterion selected to break down the samples into sustainable and non-sustainable enterprises. The accounting indicators were separated into two kinds: risk (dividend payout, percentage growth of assets, financial leverage, current liquidity, asset size, variability of earnings, and accounting beta) and return (ROA, ROE, asset turnover, and net margin). We individually analyzed the companies in the energy sector, followed by those in the banking sector, as well as the entire ISE portfolio as of 2008/2009, including all the sectors. Mann-Whitney tests were performed in order to verify the difference of the means between the groups (ISE and non-ISE). The results, considering the method chosen and the time span covered by the study, indicate that there are no differences between sustainable companies and the others, when they are assessed by the accounting indicators used here.

El objetivo en este estudio fue determinar si existían diferencias significativas en los indicadores contables de las empresas sostenibles en relación con otras empresas no reconocidas como sostenibles. El Índice de Sostenibilidad Empresarial (ISE) de BM fue el criterio utilizado para dividir la muestra en empresas sostenibles o no. Se dividieron los indicadores contables analizados en dos categorías: de riesgo (tasa de pago de dividendos, porcentaje de crecimiento de activos, apalancamiento financiero, liquidez corriente, tamaño de los activos, variabilidad de los ingresos y beta contable) y de retorno (ROA, ROE, rotación de activos, margen neto), identificados en la revisión de la literatura. Se analizaron, de forma individual, empresas del sector de electricidad y de la banca, además, se hizo un análisis sin división sectorial de la cartera 2008/2009 del ISE. Para la verificación de la diferencia de medias entre los grupos se utilizó el test de Mann-Whitney. Los resultados, en general, y teniendo en cuenta el método utilizado y el período estudiado, indican que no hay diferencias, medidas por los indicadores contables seleccionados, entre las empresas sostenibles y las que no son así consideradas.

Nos últimos anos, diversas empresas ocidentais ligadas à actividade bancária e ao sector segurador passaram a oferecer no mercado produtos financeiros de acordo com as prescrições da sharia islâmica. Inicialmente, o mercado-alvo eram apenas os países árabes e islâmicos sobretudo do Médio Oriente. Recentemente, a tendência estendeu-se também aos mercados ocidentais tendo como finalidade atrair a liquidez de investidores árabes e configurar produtos «éticos» para os muçulmanos residentes na Europa e América do Norte. Face a esta expansão, o objectivo principal deste artigo é discutir as questões levantadas pela finança islâmica de uma maneira abrangente. A análise será feita ligando esta tendência empresarial aos desenvolvimentos mais gerais do islamismo (islão político) e ao relativismo-multiculturalista ocidental, procurando avaliar as consequências que daí podem resultar para as sociedades democráticas e seculares do Ocidente.

In the last years several Western corporations from the financial sector, including banks, insurance companies, and rating agencies, begun to offer on the market financial products in conformity with the prescriptions of Islamic Shari’a. At the beginning, the targets were only the Arab and the Islamic markets mainly in the Middle East. More recently, this trend also extended to the Western market, targeting both the liquidity of Arab investors and the Muslim populations of Europe and North America with «ethical» products. Thus, the main objective of this paper is discussing, in a broad way, what is at stake with the expansion of the Islamic finance to the Western societies. The analysis will connect this business trend with other general developments, particularly with Islamism (political Islam), and the Western relativism and multiculturalism. The final purpose is to make an assessment of the possible consequences for the democratic and secular societies of the West.

El análisis financiero es fundamental para evaluar la situación y el desempeño económico y financiero real de una empresa, detectar dificultades y aplicar correctivos adecuados para solventarlas. El objetivo de este estudio es analizar la importancia del análisis financiero como herramienta clave para una gestión financiera eficiente. Es un estudio analítico con diseño documental basado en los fundamentos teóricos de Gitman (2003), Van Horne (2003), Elizondo y Altman (2003), entre otros. El análisis financiero se basa en el cálculo de indicadores financieros que expresan la liquidez, solvencia, eficiencia operativa, endeudamiento, rendimiento y rentabilidad de una empresa. Se considera que una empresa con liquidez es solvente pero no siempre una empresa solvente posee liquidez. El análisis financiero basado en cifras ajustadas por inflación proporciona información financiera válida, actual, veraz y precisa. Se concluye que el análisis financiero es una herramienta gerencial y analítica clave en toda actividad empresarial que determina las condiciones financieras en el presente, la gestión de los recursos financieros disponibles y contribuye a predecir el futuro de la empresa.

Financial analysis is fundamental to assessing the real economic and financial situation and performance of a company, detecting difficulties and applying suitable correctives to solve them. The objective of this study is to analyze the significance of financial analysis as a key technique for efficient financial management. It is an analytical study with a documentary design based on the theories of Gitman (2003), Van Horne (2003), Brigham and Houston (2006), Elizondo and Altman (2003), among others. Financial analysis is based on estimating financial indicators that show the liquidity, solvency, operative efficiency, debt, yield and profitability of an enterprise. A business with liquidity is considered solvent, but a solvent business does not always have liquidity. Financial analysis based on figures adjusted for inflation provides valid, current, truthful and precise financial information. Conclusions are that financial analysis is a key management and analytic technique for all business activity that determines current financial conditions, the management of available financial resources and that it contributes to predicting the future of the enterprise.

Neste trabalho é apresentado um novo modelo de análise das demonstrações contábeis que permite integrar as avaliações da situação financeira e da rentabilidade do capital próprio em uma única medida, denominada Indicador da Saúde Econômico-Financeira das Empresas (ISEF). O desenvolvimento do ISEF está sendo demonstrado a partir de pesquisa envolvendo 684 empresas pertencentes a 20 setores de atividades. O processamento dos dados coletados foi realizado por meio de software especialmente desenvolvido para essa pesquisa, gerando um grande número de informações agrupadas em dezenas de tabelas. Os procedimentos metodológicos utilizados foram expostos em detalhes. A situação financeira das empresas foi avaliada por intermédio do modelo Fleuriet, bastante conhecido nos meios acadêmicos devido aos seus sólidos fundamentos teóricos e à objetividade das suas respostas. A análise da rentabilidade do capital próprio foi desenvolvida a partir da fórmula Du Pont, ferramenta antiga e até hoje largamente utilizada. Além de integrar as avaliações da situação financeira e da rentabilidade de uma empresa em particular, determinando o grau de sua saúde econômico-financeira, o ISEF fornece uma visão bastante ampla sobre o que está ocorrendo em diferentes setores de atividades e no ambiente empresarial como um todo.

This paper introduces a new financial statement analysis model that allows us to integrate evaluations of the company's financial situation and the profitability of its own capital into one single measure, called companies' Economic-Financial Health Indicator (ISEF). The development of this indicator is demonstrated on the basis of research with 684 companies from 20 activity sectors. The collected data were processed through software developed especially for this study, generating a large amount of information that is grouped into several tables. The methodological procedures were described in detail. The companies' financial situation was evaluated through the Fleuriet model, which is quite well known in the academic world due to its solid theoretical foundations and the objectivity of its answers. The profitability of the companies' own capital was analyzed through the Du Pont formula, a traditional tool that is widely used until today. Besides integrating evaluations of a company's financial situation and the profitability of its own capital, thus determining the degree of its economic-financial health, the ISEF provides quite a broad view on what is happening in different activity sectors and in the business environment on the whole.