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The Global Insight

Why do companies report financial statements?

Author

James Williams

Updated on February 23, 2026

The intent of the required annual report is to provide public disclosure of a company’s operating and financial activities over the past year. The report is typically issued to shareholders and other stakeholders who use it to evaluate the firm’s financial performance and to make investment decisions.

Who are the users of financial reports?

Who are the Users of Financial Statements?

  • Company management.
  • Competitors.
  • Customers.
  • Employees.
  • Governments.
  • Investment analysts.
  • Investors.
  • Lenders.

What should be included in an annual report?

Beyond the editorial, an annual report summarizes financial data and includes a company’s income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement. It also provides industry insights, management’s discussion and analysis (MD&A), accounting policies, and additional investor information.

What do Financial Statements tell you about a company?

A company’s financial position tells investors about its general well-being. A financial analysis of a company’s financial statements – along with the footnotes in the annual report – is essential for any serious investor wanting to understand and value a company properly.

Where to find a company’s annual report and SEC filings?

Where Can I Find a Company’s Annual Report and Its SEC Filings? Eric Estevez is financial professional for a large multinational corporation. His experience is relevant to both business and personal financial topics.

What kind of financial report does a company have to file?

All publicly-traded companies in the U.S. must file regular financial reports with the SEC. These filings include the annual report (known as the 10-K ), quarterly report ( 10-Q ), and a myriad of other forms containing all types of financial data. 4  5