How to analyze historical performance of a company?

Hello all,

What are the primary ratios and numbers that I should look at when trying to assess the historical performance of a company? What information in the financial statements are most important?

Thank you!

Every industry has key performance indicators (KPIs) that are more relevant to them. For example, inventory turns are very important for retailers but not so much for software companies (they don’t have any inventory).

Wow, thank you for the help!!

Revenue trend vs Industry growth trend
EBITDA performance
CFO and FFO performance
Deleveraging

Thank you! I’m doing the basic apparel industry. Wouldn’t it depend on that? Thank you!