While many of us may find earnings reports daunting, taking charge of your investments is the first step towards building a strong, self-sustaining portfolio. Granted, not all of us are trained in accounting or finance, but you do not need to be an expert in either in order to understand the basics of an earnings report. And help is on the way. In my previous article, I touched on two key things that investors should look for within the profit and loss statement. Today, we will shift the focus to the balance sheet and cash flow statement which is shared in earnings reports. These two statements are equally, if not more important, than just looking at revenue and profits. Debt levels, receivables and inventory Three important aspects of any balance sheet are trade receivables, inventory and the level of debt. In essence, these three items could suck up cash within a business....