Evaluating financial performance of Taiwan container shipping companies by strength and weakness indices

Abstract

In this paper, the financial performance of Taiwan major container shipping companies is evaluated. Most of past performance evaluations were focused on operational aspect, whereas financial performance influencing the survival of a company is often ignored. To evaluate financial performance, financial ratios grasped form balance sheet, income statement and cash flow may be clustered into several clusters. Then the representative indicators are found as evaluation criteria from these clusters. Based on above concepts, we utilize grey relation analysis to cluster financial ratios and find representative indicators. On the other hand, we propose a fuzzy multi-criteria decision-making method constructed on strength and weakness indices to evaluate financial performance of container shipping companies. Finally, an empirical study of the financial performance evaluation of three major container shipping companies in Taiwan is illustrated.