BAJAJ BROKING

Notification close image
No new Notification messages
card image
Monika Alcobev IPO is Open!
Apply for the Monika Alcobev IPO through UPI in just minutes.
delete image
card image
Start your SIP with just ₹100
Choose from 4,000+ Mutual Funds on Bajaj Broking
delete image
card image
Open a Free Demat Account
Pay ZERO maintenance charges for the first year, get free stock picks daily, and more.
delete image
card image
Trade Now, Pay Later with up to 4x
Never miss a good trading opportunity due to low funds with our MTF feature.
delete image
card image
Track Market Movers Instantly
Stay updated with real-time data. Get insights at your fingertips.
delete image

Difference Between Standalone and Consolidated Financial Statements

A company's financial position is presented in two formal ways. These are standalone and consolidated financial statements. On the one hand, there are the standalone financial statements, which show the financial performance and position of a single entity. It is usually the parent company, and no subsidiary is taken into account in a standalone statement. 

On the other hand, there are the consolidated financial statements, which contain a detailed presentation of the finances of the parent company and all its subsidiaries. By using the consolidated and standalone financial statements, it becomes easier to analyse a company's finances and make informed investments and decisions. 

Overview of Consolidated Financial Statements

Consolidated statements are statements that combine the financials of both a parent company and its controlled subsidiaries and are prepared as one, including assets, liabilities, revenue, and expenses. They remove intercompany transactions so as to prevent duplication and operate within positions such as GAAP or IFRS. Generally, a subsidiary is one in which the company owns 50% or more of another company, giving the parent company the option to have it as part of a consolidated financial statement.

Source: Investopedia

Overview of Standalone Financial Statements

Standalone financial statements provide the financial performance, position, and cash flows of a single entity, excluding subsidiaries, joint ventures, and associate companies. They are accompanied by fundamental reports, including the balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow, which provide an overview of the organisation's fundamental activities. 

These statements are easier to compile, create transparency, and allow comparisons with other comparable companies. On the legal front, the Companies Act 2013 and Ind AS obliges Indian companies to present standalone accounts, whose reports are clear even where the group audits are conducted.

Example of Standalone vs Consolidated Statements

In Q4 FY18, at a standalone level, Tata Motors saw its revenues (India operations) grow by a healthy 45 percent, but its profitability at a consolidated level nearly halved owing to the drag created by Jaguar Land Rover (JLR). In retail sales, JLR dipped by 3.8% and the profit before tax dwindled by 46 percent due to heavy depreciation, amortisation, and a development charge of 97 million pounds. 

The impact of Brexit-induced regulation costs, diesel regulation, and increased capital investment (4.2 billion Indian rupees in the previous year) on group performance was very high. As a result, stand-alone PAT was profitable, but consolidated results represented substantially compromised profit.

Source: Livemint

Standalone vs Consolidated Financial Statements— Key Differences

When comparing standalone and consolidated financial statements, several critical aspects emerge:

  • Scope and purpose

Standalone: Reports the financials of one legal entity and are generally used for internal evaluation, competitive benchmarking, as well as compliance with standalone annual filing as required by the Companies Act and SEBI LODR Regulations.

Consolidated: Combines all the financial accounts between the parent and the subsidiary to produce a single report, which eliminates any intercompany transactions to reflect the economic reality of the group, which is required by regulation LODR in the case of an entity having control over a subsidiary.

  • Complexity and adjustments

Standalone reports: Drawn up from data of an individual entity without adjustments, less complex, and faster to prepare.

Consolidated reports: Need to reconcile accounting policies, remove intra-group transactions, and account for non-controlling interests, as required by Ind AS and IFRS standards.

  • Financial ratios and valuation

Standalone P/E: Only captures the parent entity's earnings.

Consolidated P/E: Captures group-level profitability and is more pertinent to investors evaluating total corporate value and risk profile.

  • Regulatory requirements

Standalone filings: Required for all companies under MCA/SEBI regulations, and individual standalone XBRL filings are needed.

Consolidated filings: Necessitated when a company has over 50 percent control in subsidiaries, and many times with IFRS/GAAP frameworks. 

  • Applications to stakeholders

Management: Dependent on standalone statements for unit-level performance, budgeting, and strategy planning.

Investors and creditors: Prefer consolidated statements for an overall view of group-wide performance, diversification, and debt capacity.

  • Intercompany eliminations

Standalone: Posts intercompany transactions as receivables/payables.

Consolidated: Removes these transactions entirely to prevent double-counting, providing accurate reporting of group financials.

  • Transparency vs clarity

Standalone: It offers unhindered visibility to the operations and financial position of the parent.

Combined: Provides a comprehensive picture of how the group is performing, but could mask those risks or inefficiencies later because of merging and supposed elimination.

Source: Investopedia 

Factors to Consider When Choosing Between Standalone and Consolidated Reports

In choosing which form to prioritize, companies and stakeholders need to consider the following:

  • Regulatory compliance:

Consolidated statements are required for group entities with controlling interests (≥50%) according to IFRS/GAAP. Standalone statements are needed to fulfill statutory requirements based on the ownership structure. (religareonline.com)

  • Financial transparency:

Consolidation provides transparency into group‐level capital, leverage, and risk. Standalone statements provide transparency on the standalone entity's performance and expense makeup.

  • Business structure:

If running diversified subsidiaries, consolidated reports disclose synergies, interbusiness dependencies, and aggregate profitability. A standalone solution is sufficient for single-entity or siloed operations.

  • Investor and creditors' needs:

Investors evaluating overall group value and credit risk prefer consolidated reporting. Creditors interested in exposure to named entities might use standalone statements.

  • Management objectives:

Corporate management might employ standalone for divisional performance, whereas aggregate results drive strategic decisions and resource allocation at the group level.

  • Intercompany exposure:

Consolidated elimination of intra-company transactions avoids distortion of revenue or asset values, revealing intercompany funding patterns.

  • Complexity and cost:

Consolidated preparation requires strong systems and audit procedures, whereas a standalone approach is less complex and less expensive.

Conclusion

Consolidated and standalone financial statements play complementary roles even though they are different. Standalone reports are indispensable when financial issues pertain to only one element, both in the context of internal management and legal compliance. Consolidated statements provide a comprehensive view of the entire group, including intercompany eliminations, and reflect the overall performance of subsidiaries. 

The stakeholders who need to analyse both forms are investors, regulators, and management, in order to make fully informed decisions. Standalone reports provide micro-level information that is necessary for granular analysis, whereas consolidated reports offer macro-level information. Through the combination of the two, organisations can achieve regulatory compliance, transparency, and full financial reporting.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Bajaj Broking Financial Services Ltd. (BFSL) makes no recommendations to buy or sell securities

Share this article: 

Frequently Asked Questions

No result found

search icon

Read More Blogs

Disclaimer :

The information on this website is provided on "AS IS" basis. Bajaj Broking (BFSL) does not warrant the accuracy of the information given herein, either expressly or impliedly, for any particular purpose and expressly disclaims any warranties of merchantability or suitability for any particular purpose. While BFSL strives to ensure accuracy, it does not guarantee the completeness, reliability, or timeliness of the information. Users are advised to independently verify details and stay updated with any changes.

The information provided on this website is for general informational purposes only and is subject to change without prior notice. BFSL shall not be responsible for any consequences arising from reliance on the information provided herein and shall not be held responsible for all or any actions that may subsequently result in any loss, damage and or liability. Interest rates, fees, and charges etc., are revised from time to time, for the latest details please refer to our Pricing page.

Neither the information, nor any opinion contained in this website constitutes a solicitation or offer by BFSL or its affiliates to buy or sell any securities, futures, options or other financial instruments or provide any investment advice or service.

BFSL is acting as distributor for non-broking products/ services such as IPO, Mutual Fund, Insurance, PMS, and NPS. These are not Exchange Traded Products. For more details on risk factors, terms and conditions please read the sales brochure carefully before investing.

Investments in the securities market are subject to market risk, read all related documents carefully before investing. This content is for educational purposes only. Securities quoted are exemplary and not recommendatory.

[ Read More ]

For more disclaimer, check here : https://www.bajajbroking.in/disclaimer

Our Secure Trading Platforms

Level up your stock market experience: Download the Bajaj Broking App for effortless investing and trading

Bajaj Broking App Download

10 lakh+ Users

icon-with-text

4.2 App Rating

icon-with-text

4 Languages

icon-with-text

₹5600+ Cr MTF Book

icon-with-text
banner-icon

Open Your Free Demat Account

Enjoy low brokerage on delivery trades

+91

|

Please Enter Mobile Number

Open Your Free Demat Account

Enjoy low brokerage on delivery trades

+91

|