Economic analysis using MS Excel forecasting functions

Profitability indicators are relative indicators used to compare enterprises of different industries, forms of ownership, sizes, sales volumes, etc. The calculation of profitability indicators, assessment of management efficiency with their help and calculation of their forecast values using MS Excel is an important element in assessing the financial performance of each enterprise. Currently, various approaches, methods of calculating the financial results of the enterprise, including the use of functions and capabilities of MS Excel, and therefore change the characteristics of these indicators, their interpretation, calculation conditions and more. The use of Excel spreadsheets allows not only to calculate the profitability of the enterprise, identify trends and build graphs that show the dynamics of indicators, but also to calculate the forecast profitability, which will improve the management of the enterprise and direct its development prospects. The article describes the scientific approaches to the economic essence of the concept of "profitability" and the system of indicators that characterize the profitability of the enterprise. It was found that all economists agree that profitability is an indicator of the efficiency of financial and economic activities of the enterprise and reflects the ratio of business results to its costs. However, there is no consensus on the system of profitability indicators. The article highlights a system of indicators that characterizes the efficiency of forestry in the Volyn region. An analysis of profitability indicators for 9 years of economic activity of five forestries was conducted. The trend of enterprises is clarified and it is determined that the development of enterprises takes place on a sine wave. This made it possible to calculate and propose for practical application the forecast of these indicators using the forecasting functions TREND, FORECAST, GROWTH, LINEST. It is substantiated that the functions TREND, FORECAST, GROWTH, LINEST and Forecast Sheet allow you to make a "quick" forecast of changes in indicators for any period

analysis, profitability, system of indicators, MS Excel, forecasting functions