Last Twelve Months (LTM)
Candlefocus EditorLTM analysis involves calculating the average numbers from the past 12 months to arrive at a longer-term or "rolling" value for the company. This allows for easy comparisons of performance over time, as well as comparisons across companies.
LTM evaluation is a cost-effective and accurate way for analysts, investors and potential lenders to assess a company's financial health. The technique allows for reasonable assumptions about what a company’s financial performance would be like over the long term. It also eliminates seasonal effects from data since LTM reports are calculated over a 12-month period.
Analysts and investors use LTM evaluations to look at different aspects of a company’s performance, including revenue and expenses, profit, debt, and cash flow. It also allows them to spot trends in a company’s performance to make sure their investments are sound and to identify any weaknesses that need to be addressed.
To calculate LTM, analysts and investors typically use a line graph and the past 12 months of data for comparison. After the current month is complete, analysts and investors subtract the oldest month from the newest month and add the current month’s figures. This creates a rolling 12-month period with data points automatically adjusted for seasonality.
Using the LTM method of analysis, investors and analysts can have a more comprehensive view of a company’s financial health. This allows them to make better investing decisions, spot trends, identify weaknesses and determine whether the company is a good investment or not. In addition, analysts can use LTM to measure the effectiveness of management decisions by comparing current results with the past 12 months, making it an invaluable tool in their arsenal.