What are Bank-Specific Ratios? Bank-specific ratios, such as net interest margin (NIM), provision for credit losses (PCL), and efficiency ratio are unique to the banking industry. Like companies in other sectors, banks have specific ratios to measure profitability and efficiency designed to suit their unique business operations. Also, since financial strength is especially important for banks, there are…
What is the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE)? The levelized cost of energy (LCOE), also referred to as the levelized cost of electricity or the levelized energy cost (LEC), is a measurement used to assess and compare alternative methods of energy production. The LCOE of an energy-generating asset can be thought of as the average…
What is a Commodity Swap? A commodity swap is a type of derivative contract that allows two parties to exchange (or swap) cash flows that are dependent on the price of an underlying asset. In this case, the underlying asset is a commodity. Commodity swaps are very important in many commodity-based industries, such as oil…
What is a Forward Contract? A forward contract, often shortened to just forward, is a contract agreement to buy or sell an asset at a specific price on a specified date in the future. Since the forward contract refers to the underlying asset that will be delivered on the specified date, it is considered a…
What is a Non-Performing Asset? A non-performing asset (NPA) is a classification used by financial institutions for loans and advances on which the principal is past due and on which no interest payments have been made for a period of time. In general, loans become NPAs when they are outstanding for 90 days or more,…
What is Basel II? Basel II is the second set of international banking regulations defined by the Basel Committee on Bank Supervision (BCBS). It is an extension of the regulations for minimum capital requirements as defined under Basel I. The Basel II framework operates under three pillars: Capital adequacy requirements Supervisory review Market discipline …
What is the Temporal Method? The temporal method is a currency exchange method used to convert the currency that a foreign subsidiary ordinarily does business in into the currency used by its parent company. The parent company’s commonly used currency is referred to as the subsidiary’s “functional currency.” It may also be referred to as…
What is Shadow Inventory? Shadow inventory is a term used to describe properties that are typically real estate owned (REO), which means they are in foreclosure, have been foreclosed on, and are being held by banks to be released back into the market at a later date. The “shadow” part of the term is used…
What is EBIAT? EBIAT, or Earnings Before Interest After Taxes, is a financial metric that measures a company’s profitability and operating efficiency. The calculation of EBIAT removes the tax benefits gained from debt financing. EBIAT gives a true financial picture of the company, eliminating all elements that can potentially boost or reduce its financial strength….
