Which financial statement provides information about a company's performance over a specified period?

The Income Statement is the financial statement that provides information about a company's performance over a specified period. It summarizes revenues, expenses, and profits or losses, thereby reflecting the company's financial performance during that time frame.

The Income Statement helps stakeholders understand how much money the company earned and spent, leading to either a net income or loss. It is typically presented for a specific period, such as a quarter or a year, which allows for performance evaluation and comparison over time.

Other financial statements serve different purposes. The Balance Sheet, for example, provides a snapshot of the company’s financial position at a specific point in time, detailing assets, liabilities, and equity. The Cash Flow Statement tracks the flow of cash in and out of the business over a period, giving insights into cash management rather than overall performance. Meanwhile, the Statement of Retained Earnings shows how much profit has been retained in the business over time but does not directly address performance metrics like revenues and expenses for a specific period.